This paper deals with reduction and analysis of cogging torque for permanent magnet synchronous generators with multi-pole rotor for wind power applications. Open-circuit field solutions are derived using a magnetic vector potential and a two-dimensional (2-d) polar coordinate systems. On the basis of derived open-circuit field solutions and 2-d permeance functions, we also derive open-circuit field solutions considering stator slotting effects. By using open-circuit field solutions considering stator slotting effects and energy variation methods, this paper analytically predicts the cogging torque considering skew effects. All analytical results are shown in good agreement with those obtained from finite element (FE) analyses. In order to reduce the cogging torque, by predicting the variation of the cogging torque according to pole arc/pitch ratio using analytical and FE methods, pole arc/pitch ratio which makes the cogging torque minimum are determined. However, we confirm that measured value for cogging torque of the PMG with determined pole arc/pitch ratio is twice higher than predicted value. Therefore, the reason for an error between measured and predicted cogging torque is discussed in terms of a shape of PMs and is proved experimentally.