G Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale in DADGAD tuning — fretboard diagram
G Minor in DADGAD — Notes and Intervals
The G Minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode or natural minor, is the standard for expressing melancholy, introspection, and drama. On Guitar, its notes are G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F. Its sound is darker and more somber than the major scale, widely used in songwriting to evoke deep emotional narratives and serving as the foundation of traditional minor-key compositions. The diatonic chords of G Minor are Gm7, Am7b5, Bbmaj7, Cm7, Dm7, Ebmaj7, F7. Commonly used in Rock, Pop, Metal, Classical, R&B. Notable players include Metallica, Adele, Beethoven. Use over minor triads, m7, m9 chords. Works across the entire minor key. Avoid over dominant chords that want a leading tone.
Notes: G, A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Tuning: DADGAD (D-A-D-G-A-D)
Also known as: aeolian
Diatonic Chords
Gm7 — Am7♭5 — B♭maj7 — Cm7 — Dm7 — E♭maj7 — F7
About DADGAD Tuning
DADGAD tuning creates an open Dsus4 chord when strummed open, producing a hauntingly beautiful, droning sound that has become synonymous with Celtic folk music and modern acoustic songwriting. The tuning's natural resonance and overtones make even simple fingerpicking patterns sound rich and complex.
Popularized by Davey Graham in the 1960s and later championed by Pierre Bensusan and Jimmy Page, DADGAD has become one of the most beloved alternate tunings for acoustic guitarists. Its suspended quality — neither clearly major nor minor — creates an ethereal, meditative atmosphere that invites exploration. The tuning excels at creating drone-based arrangements where open strings ring against fretted notes.
Notable artists: Pierre Bensusan, Jimmy Page, Andy McKee, Davey Graham, Laurence Juber
Best for: Celtic folk, acoustic songwriting, drone-based fingerpicking, and meditative compositions
Musical Character
The relative minor of any major key shares the same notes but starts on the 6th degree, allowing composers to shift mood without changing key signature.
Chord Progressions Using This Scale
- i – VI – III – VII (Cinematic Minor)Contemporary / Film — Dramatic & Dark