G♯dim, diminished chord
G♯, B and D
- Root
- G♯
- Minor third
- B
- Diminished fifth
- D
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 (3, 6 half steps above G♯)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | G♯ | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
G♯ diminished inversions
G♯ diminished has 2 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.
G♯dim
Root position
| Notes | G♯ | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
G♯dim/B
First inversion
| Notes | B | D | G♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
G♯dim/D
Second inversion
| Notes | D | G♯ | B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with G♯ diminished
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. G♯ diminished appears as:
- vii° in A major
- ii° in F♯ minor
- vii° in A minor
How G♯ diminished is built
G♯ is the root, B the minor third and D the diminished fifth.
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: the root, a minor third (3 half steps up) and a diminished fifth (6 half steps up). It sounds tense and usually moves on to another chord.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of G♯ diminished are G, B, D. That is why it is spelled G♯, B and D.
Find G♯ diminished 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 3
Tap the notes of G♯ diminished, in any octave and any order.
Practice G♯ diminished 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 chord?
G♯ diminished (G♯dim) has three notes: G♯, B and D. G♯ is the root, B the minor third and D the diminished fifth.
What fingers do you use for G♯ diminished on piano?
In root position, play G♯, B and D with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 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?
G♯ diminished has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (G♯dim/B): B, D and G♯. Second inversion (G♯dim/D): D, G♯ and B.
What key is G♯ diminished in?
G♯ diminished appears as vii° in A major, ii° in F♯ minor and vii° in A minor.