G diminished chord (Gdim)
The G diminished chord (Gdim) is a diminished triad: G, B♭ and D♭, two minor thirds stacked on top of each other (root, minor third and diminished fifth).
It is the vii° in A♭ major and the ii° in F minor; it sits inside E♭ dominant seventh and tends to resolve to A♭ major, a half step up.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play G diminished on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 3-4-5-3-x-x, barre at fret 3, with G in the bass (fingers 1-2-4-1-x-x).
- Voicing 2: x-10-11-12-11-x, with G in the bass (fingers x-1-2-4-3-x).
Notes of the G diminished chord on the fretboard
G diminished has 3 notes: G, B♭ and D♭. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): G (3) · B♭ (6) · D♭ (9)
- String 5 (A): B♭ (1) · D♭ (4) · G (10)
- String 4 (D): G (5) · B♭ (8) · D♭ (11)
- String 3 (G): G (0) · B♭ (3) · D♭ (6) · G (12)
- String 2 (B): D♭ (2) · G (8) · B♭ (11)
- String 1 (E): G (3) · B♭ (6) · D♭ (9)
Formula and intervals of G diminished
Its formula is 1-♭3-♭5; in semitones from the root, 0-3-6.
- G: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- B♭: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above G
- D♭: Diminished fifth (d5), 6 semitones above G
G diminished on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 0-1-3-1; it sounds G, D♭, G and B♭.
G diminished on piano
- Keys: G4, B♭4 and D♭5.
Inversions of G diminished
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: G, B♭ and D♭, with G in the bass.
- First inversion (Gdim/B♭): B♭, D♭ and G, with B♭ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Gdim/D♭): D♭, G and B♭, with D♭ in the bass.
Keys that use G diminished
G diminished appears in 3 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ major (4 flats) | vii° | Leading tone |
| F minor (4 flats) | ii° | Supertonic |
| G♯ minor (harmonic minor, 5 sharps) | vii° (written F𝄪dim) | Leading tone |
Progressions with G diminished
- Passing diminished chord in G♭ major (I–♯i°–ii–V): G♭ – Gdim – A♭m – D♭
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G diminished chord?
G, B♭ and D♭: root, minor third and diminished fifth. Its formula is 1-♭3-♭5.
Which keys use G diminished?
Mainly as the vii° in A♭ major and the ii° in F minor. In total it appears in 3 major and minor keys.
Is G diminished the same as a diminished seventh chord?
No: G diminished is a triad with three notes (G, B♭ and D♭). A diminished seventh chord adds a fourth note, another minor third on top.
Why does G diminished sound like E♭ dominant seventh?
Because its three notes, G, B♭ and D♭, are the third, fifth and seventh of E♭ dominant seventh: it is that dominant seventh without its root. So it does the same job and resolves to A♭ major.