G diminished chord
- Gsol
- Bbtib
- Dbreb
Gdim chord notes
G diminished stacks two minor thirds, three semitones and then three, so its top note is a diminished fifth above the root. It sounds tense and unstable, and Gdim usually passes quickly to a chord a semitone up.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Gsol | Root1 | 0 |
| Bbtib | Minor thirdb3 | 3 |
| Dbreb | Diminished fifthb5 | 6 |
Gdim chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Gdim's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
G, Bb, Db
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
First inversion
Bb, Db, G
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
Second inversion
Db, G, Bb
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
Keys that use Gdim
In these major keys Gdim is one of the key's own chords. The numeral beside each key is its place in that key, as chord charts write it.
- A-flat majorVIIdim
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What notes are in the Gdim chord?
G diminished (Gdim) is G, Bb, Db. In solfège that's sol, tib, reb.
Which fingers play Gdim?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-3-5 and the left hand 5-3-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
Where is Gdim used?
As a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart, and as the VII chord of the major key a semitone above its root. In both places Gdim lasts a beat or two and moves on.