TuneKite

Piano chord

GdimG diminished

  • G1
  • B♭♭3
  • D♭♭5
Notes
3
Positions
3
Span
6semitones
Fingers
1-3-5

How to play Gdim on piano

  1. Find G: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D♭.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. Gdim on piano, Root position: G B♭ D♭G, B♭, D♭GB♭D♭135
    Gdim on piano, Root position: G B♭ D♭G, B♭, D♭GB♭D♭531

    Root position · G – B♭ – D♭

  2. Gdim on piano, 1st inversion: B♭ D♭ GB♭, D♭, GGB♭D♭512
    Gdim on piano, 1st inversion: B♭ D♭ GB♭, D♭, GGB♭D♭153

    1st inversion · B♭ – D♭ – G

  3. Gdim on piano, 2nd inversion: D♭ G B♭D♭, G, B♭GD♭B♭315
    Gdim on piano, 2nd inversion: D♭ G B♭D♭, G, B♭GD♭B♭251

    2nd inversion · D♭ – G – B♭

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

Gdim inversions

Here are all 3 positions of Gdim. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has G at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.

Chords that go with Gdim

The other chords of A flat major, the key where Gdim is home (vii°). Songs in this key move between them.

Gdim with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays G an octave lower, the right hand plays G–B♭–D♭.

Gdim with two handsG, G, B♭, D♭GGB♭D♭5135

Gdim on other instruments

About the Gdim chord

The 3 notes of G diminished are G (1), B♭ (♭3), D♭ (♭5). A diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked, with a flat fifth. Tense and unstable, it leads strongly to the next chord.

Put your thumb on G and count up: G – B♭ – D♭. The whole chord spans 6 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Gdim without stretching.

The inversions of Gdim keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D♭–G). In the 2nd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–G–B♭).

Take F♭ out of Gdim7 and you get Gdim.

Gdim belongs to A flat major (vii°), F minor (ii°).

Questions

What notes are in the Gdim chord?

Gdim (G diminished) has 3 notes: G (1), B♭ (♭3), D♭ (♭5).

How many inversions does Gdim have?

Gdim can be played in 3 positions: Root position (G–B♭–D♭); 1st inversion (B♭–D♭–G); 2nd inversion (D♭–G–B♭).

What is the difference between Gdim and Gdim7?

Take F♭ out of Gdim7 and you get Gdim.

Can I play Gdim with one hand?

Yes. In root position Gdim spans 6 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More G chords