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G Minor 6th

Minor 6th · G – B♭ – D – E · intervals P1-m3-P5-M6

The G Minor 6th chord (Gm6) contains the notes G, B♭, D, and E. Its interval formula is R-m3-P5-M6. A minor triad plus the major 6th — bittersweet and noir-tinged, a jazz minor color.

At the keyboard

G · Bb · D · E
Flashcards · Chord
Three questions on G Minor 6th
Answer on the keyboard, not with buttons. No login required.
Gm6

The G Minor 6th chord is a four-note chord made up of G, B♭, D, and E. It is built from a root, minor third, perfect fifth, and major sixth.

Construction

G Minor 6th = Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th + Major 6th = G · B♭ · D · E
NoteIntervalDegree
GRoot1
B♭Minor 3rd♭3
DPerfect 5th5
EMajor 6th6

G Minor 6th Inversions

G Minor 6th piano chord, 1st inversion — B♭, D, E, G
The G Minor 6th chord, 1st inversion, on a piano keyboard.
G Minor 6th piano chord, 2nd inversion — D, E, G, B♭
The G Minor 6th chord, 2nd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
G Minor 6th piano chord, 3rd inversion — E, G, B♭, D
The G Minor 6th chord, 3rd inversion, on a piano keyboard.
PositionNotes
Root PositionG – B♭ – D – E
1st InversionB♭ – D – E – G
2nd InversionD – E – G – B♭
3rd InversionE – G – B♭ – D

Key Signature

A chord has no key signature of its own, but the G Minor 6th is the tonic (i) chord of G Minor, which shares the signature of its relative major, Bb Major2 flats (B♭, E♭).

B♭E♭

Order of flats

Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.

BEADGCF

Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father

Chords in the Key of G Minor

These are the triads built on each degree of the G minor scale:

C1C2C3C4GC5DC6C7C8A#
iG Minor (minor)
DegreeNumeralChordQuality
1iG MinorMinor
2ii°A DiminishedDiminished
3IIIA♯ MajorMajor
4ivC MinorMinor
5vD MinorMinor
6VID♯ MajorMajor
7VIIF MajorMajor

Same Notes, Other Names

The notes G – B♭ – D – E aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:

G Minor 6th — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the G Minor 6th chord on piano?
The G Minor 6th chord contains the notes G – B♭ – D – E. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the G Minor 6th chord?
Gm6 contains: G, Bb, D, E. Minor triad with major sixth.
How does Gm6 differ from Gm7?
Gm6 has E (major sixth). Gm7 has F (minor seventh).
How is Gm6 used?
Descending line. Jazz tonic. Enharmonic of Em7b5. G minor is one of the most expressive classical keys.
Is Gm6 the same as Em7b5?
Same four notes, different root.
What songs use Minor 6th?
My Funny Valentine, jazz standards in G minor.
How does Gm6 differ from G6?
Gm6 has minor third (Bb).

Related Tools

Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.

References & Further Reading

The note names, intervals, fingering, and harmony on this chord page are grounded in the following sources. Public domain treatises and scores are linked to their full text; primary data is piano.org's own interval-derived reference dataset — continuously maintained and human-verified, with no fixed publication date.

  1. 1

    Prout, Ebenezer(1889)

    Harmony: Its Theory and Practice

    Public domain treatise
  2. 2

    Goetschius, Percy(1889)

    The Material Used in Musical Composition

    Public domain treatise
  3. 3

    Riemann, Hugo(1896)

    Harmony Simplified (English translation)

    Public domain treatise
  4. 4

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Entry reviewed and maintained by Justin Evans. Corrections are read and applied.Report an error

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