Gdim7, diminished seventh chord
G, B♭, D♭ and F♭
- Root
- G
- Minor third
- B♭
- Diminished fifth
- D♭
- Diminished seventh
- F♭
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 (3, 6, 9 half steps above G)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | G | B♭ | D♭ | F♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
F♭ is played on the white key E.
G diminished 7 inversions
G diminished 7 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Gdim7
Root position
| Notes | G | B♭ | D♭ | F♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Gdim7/B♭
First inversion
| Notes | B♭ | D♭ | F♭ | G |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Gdim7/D♭
Second inversion
| Notes | D♭ | F♭ | G | B♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Gdim7/F♭
Third inversion
| Notes | F♭ | G | B♭ | D♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Where G diminished 7 fits
Its notes do not all belong to one major key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
How G diminished 7 is built
G is the root, B♭ the minor third, D♭ the diminished fifth and F♭ the diminished seventh.
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means G diminished 7 uses the same four keys as A♯ diminished 7, C♯ diminished 7 and E diminished 7.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of G diminished 7 are G, B, D, F. That is why it is spelled G, B♭, D♭ and F♭.
Find G diminished 7 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of G diminished 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice G diminished 7 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the G diminished 7 chord?
G diminished 7 (Gdim7) has four notes: G, B♭, D♭ and F♭. G is the root, B♭ the minor third, D♭ the diminished fifth and F♭ the diminished seventh. F♭ is played on the white key E.
What fingers do you use for G diminished 7 on piano?
In root position, play G, B♭, D♭ and F♭ with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of G diminished 7?
G diminished 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Gdim7/B♭): B♭, D♭, F♭ and G. Second inversion (Gdim7/D♭): D♭, F♭, G and B♭. Third inversion (Gdim7/F♭): F♭, G, B♭ and D♭.
What is a diminished seventh chord?
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means G diminished 7 uses the same four keys as A♯ diminished 7, C♯ diminished 7 and E diminished 7.