G diminished chord on piano

Gdim · G° — a tense chord of two minor thirds that wants to move on.

Notes	G – B♭ – D♭
Formula	1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Symbols	Gdim, G°
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play G diminished on the piano

Start on G. Add the third (B♭) and the fifth (D♭). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays G diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

G – B♭ – D♭ · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

B♭ – D♭ – G · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

D♭ – G – B♭ · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use G diminished

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

ii° in F minor
vii° in A♭ major

Other G chords

G major G minor G augmented G sus2 G sus4 G6 G7 G major seventh G minor seventh G diminished seventh G half-diminished

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