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G# Diminished Chord

G#dim stacks two minor thirds: G sharp to B, then B to D. Its lowered fifth creates a tritone above the root and gives the triad a strong need to move.

  • Notes: G sharp-B-D
  • Symbol: G#dim
  • viidim in A major
  • Lowered fifth
Switch chordG#dim

How to play a G# diminished chord

Notes: G# - B - D · symbol G#dim

  • Root position

    G# - B - D
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    B - D - G#
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    D - G# - B
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does G# diminished belong?

In A major, this diminished triad can act as a leading-tone chord that approaches the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In A majorLeading-tone chord
    vii°

    G sharp is the leading tone of A, so the chord leans hard toward it.

    AIDIVG#dimvii°AI
  • In F# minorThe ii° in minor
    ii°

    The minor-key version of ii-V-i, heading to F#m.

    G#dimii°C#VF#mi
  • In A minorMinor-key pull
    vii°

    From harmonic minor: the same chord pulls just as hard toward Am.

    AmiDmivG#dimvii°Ami

Progressions to try

  • ADG#dimA

    G#dim is a leading-tone triad that resolves by step into the final major tonic.

  • G#dimC#F#m

    In F# minor, G#dim serves as ii diminished before the dominant and minor tonic.

  • AmDmG#dimAm

    The leading-tone sound also works before a minor tonic; check the chord's spelling in this key.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with the open 42040x grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent.

On ukulele, start with 4242, played at the 2nd fret. The 7875 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play G sharp-B-D. Move G sharp up an octave to reach the first inversion, B-D-G sharp; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

G sharp is the root, B the minor third and D the diminished fifth, six semitones above the root.

  • Root position: G sharp-B-D, with G sharp lowest.
  • First inversion: B-D-G sharp, written G#dim/B if B is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: D-G sharp-B, written G#dim/D if D is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does G#dim differ from G#m?

Keep G sharp and B, then raise the diminished fifth D to D sharp. That makes G#m. This page is about the three-note diminished triad, not a diminished seventh chord. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See G#m for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • G#dim

    G# - B - D
    C4

    G# diminished

  • G#m

    G# - B - D#
    C4

    G# minor

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