Writing songs in G minor is not the most popular option, but there are plenty of incredible tunes you can find in various genres. As you know already, the G minor scale starts with the tone G, and it’s followed by A, Bb, C, D, Eb, F, and G.
The scale has two flats (Bb and Eb), and it is relative to the Bb major scale. The popularity of the scale grew thanks to Mozart, and he thought it was the best option to express sadness or tragedy.
But there is so much more you can do with it. Needless to say, playing G minor on the guitar means you will either need to use a capo or play barre chords. And now is a perfect opportunity for you to improve your fretting skills.
System Of A Down – Chop Suey!
Chop Suey! is probably the most famous song by System of a Down, and it is an excellent one to learn if you are into metal. But the first thing you will need to do is tune your guitar to drop C tuning. This means you will have C, G, C, F, A, and D strings instead of the standard open E.
The next thing to mention is that the song opens with an acoustic guitar, but it is something you can learn on your electric guitar if you want. As for the chords and progression, this is not the easiest song to learn, but it is so much fun.
Donna Summer – Hot Stuff
Hot Stuff was released in 1979, and it was a single from Bad Girls. The song became an instant hit, and it is a mixture of R&B, soul, and rock. This was also a change from her style, introducing her music to a wider audience.
Playing Hot Stuff is not too complex, and it can be so much fun. Of course, you will need to tackle a few barre chords, but it shouldn’t be a problem with enough practice. You can also experiment with different effects or riffs if you want to make it a bit heavier.
The Police – Roxanne
Roxanne came out in 1978, and it was a single from Outlandos d’Amour which was the debut album by the Police. The song became an instant hit, and it is also named one of the best songs of all time. When you think of the Police, Roxanne is probably the first tune on your mind.
As with the majority of songs by the Police, playing it is not that simple. There are a bunch of unusual chords, quick changes, and beautiful progressions. And if you want to learn it, it will be an excellent addition to your repertoire.
Dire Straits – Money For Nothing
Money for Nothing is a song from 1985, it appeared on the Brothers in Arms album, and it’s one of the most popular ones by Dire Straits. If you are a fan of Mark Knopfler, you know this song already.
But playing it won’t be easy. The main challenge for this song is nailing the picking pattern, and it is essential if you want to sound like Knopfler. And since he plays the majority of songs without a pick, it might take a bit of practice.
Money For Nothing Guitar Chords
Soft Cell – Tainted Love
The original version of Tainted Love was recorded in 1964, and it was released by Gloria Jones. Over the years, the song received numerous covers, and the one by Soft Cell is among the most popular versions.
There are two main ways you can play this song. You can try it with a capo on the third fret, and the song will start with E minor, which in this case will be G minor. Or you can play with barre chords if you are comfortable with them.
Michael Jackson – Dirty Diana
Dirty Diana is one of many popular songs by Michael Jackson. It was released in 1987, and it appeared on the Bad album. The guitar solo was played by Steve Stevens, and the song is quite heavy, which is more in line with Beat It.
Now, you can play the song without a capo, or you can simplify the entire process by placing it on the third fret. It is up to you. But the more accurate version is the one without a capo. Needless to say, it is more beginner-friendly to go for the easier version
Eminem And Rihanna – Love The Way You Lie
Love the Way You Lie is a single by Eminem, and it was a part of the Recovery album from 2010. As you probably know already, the guest vocalist on the song is Rihanna, and the song was quite popular when it came out.
Playing the song is not that hard, and it is excellent for beginners. Since we are dealing with a G minor chord, the best choice is to put a capo on the third fret and enjoy playing open chords instead.
Love The Way You Lie Guitar Chords
Deep Purple – Soldier Of Fortune
Deep Purple has been around for quite some time, and there are numerous fans across the globe. But one song gained a cult following even though it was never released as a single. Yes, I am talking about Soldier of Fortune.
The song appeared on Stormbringer, it was released in 1974, and it was written by David Coverdale and Ritchie Blackmore. This incredible blues/rock ballad is an excellent way to work on improving your guitar skills if you are a beginner.
Soldier Of Fortune Guitar Chords
Lana Del Rey – Doin’ Time
Doin’ Time is a song by Sublime, and it features elements from Gershwin’s Summertime. In the past couple of years, the most recognizable version is the one by Lana Del Rey. It was released in 2019, and it became an instant hit.
To simplify things, you can put a capo on the third fret, which will allow you to play G minor the same way you would play open E minor. While it is possible to play the song without a capo, it will be a bit trickier for beginners.
Foo Fighters – All My Life
Everyone loves Dave Grohl. He’s been one of the best representatives of rock and other alt genres, and among his most famous projects is Foo Fighters. While the band has plenty of songs you can learn, All My Life is a great option if you are looking for a tune in G minor.
Now, this is not your typical song with barre chords or riffs. Instead, you will need to focus on the rhythm and nail the tempo if you want it to sound good. Naturally, you can play chords if you feel like it, but it won’t sound identical to the studio version.
Johnny Cash – Solitary Man
Choosing just one song by Johnny Cash can be quite difficult. But if the focus is on songs written in G minor, Solitary Man is an obvious choice. What is interesting is that the first version of Solitary Man was recorded in 1966.
Neil Diamond both wrote and recorded the first version, and Johnny Cash is one of many musicians who did covers since then. What is great about Cash’s version is that it’s easy to play, especially if you put a capo on the third fret.
Billie Eilish – Bad Guy
Billie Eilish became one of the biggest artists in such a short time, and she has fans all across the globe. If you are one of them, you will be delighted to learn more about Bad Guy and how to play one of Billie Eilish’s most popular songs.
There are a few ways to approach this tune since the song is not played on a guitar. You can play the main theme on your instrument, or just strum chords along with the tune. It is also possible to play with or without a capo, and playing with a capo is great if you opt for the chord version.
Eric Clapton – I Shot The Sheriff
The original version of I Shot the Sheriff was released in 1973 by Bob Marley and the Wailers. It was a single from Burnin’. But the version from 461 Ocean Boulevard by Eric Clapton is the one that introduced this song to a wider audience.
Even though the basic idea behind the versions is the same, there are a few differences between them. Namely, Clapton loves playing long solos whenever performing the song live even though the studio version is without a solo.
I Shot The Sheriff Guitar Chords
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Charlie
Stadium Arcadium was released in 2006, and it was a double album. While Charlie was not one of the five released singles, it is still one of many amazing tracks you can check out. Charlie is a different song that is so much fun to play.
Most importantly, it is beginner-friendly. Even though you will need to start with the G minor chord, you won’t need to play the full barre version unless you feel like it. But either way, you will only play the first three strings.
Elton John – Rocket Man
Rocket Man was released as a single in 1972, and the official title of the song is Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time). Needless to say, everyone is using the shorter title. The song is played on a piano, but you can easily learn the guitar adaptation.
The first thing you should do is place a capo on the third fret, which will make everything a bit simpler. As for the chords, they are not that challenging, but you still might need some practice to play them without any issues.
Conclusion
G minor is a fun key to play in, but it is not the most popular one. There are still plenty of songs covering different genres that are in this key. The G minor scale has two flat notes, Bb and Eb, and the relative major is B-flat major.
Mozart was quite fond of this key, and he often described it as the best key to express tragedy. This doesn’t mean that it is the only purpose of the G minor, and there are plenty of other choices. When it comes to playing songs in this key, one of the most common options is to place a capo on the third fret.
Needless to say, it is still possible to play without a capo, but it simplifies the process for beginners since they won’t need to play barre chords.