Piano chords · Diminished chord
Gdim piano chord (G diminished)
Gdim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
G – B♭ – D♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Gdim
Gdim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- G, the root
- B♭, the minor third
- D♭, the diminished fifth
B♭ and D♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D♭.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | G – B♭ – D♭ |
| 1st inversion | B♭ – D♭ – G |
| 2nd inversion | D♭ – G – B♭ |
Where Gdim belongs
Gdim is the vii° chord in A♭ major, the chord that leads up a half step to A♭.
Gdim is Gm with the fifth lowered a half step (D becomes D♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
A♭ – D♭ – Gdim – A♭: I – IV – vii° – I in A♭ major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Gdim chord?
Gdim (G diminished) is made of G, B♭ and D♭: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play Gdim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on G, 3 on B♭, 5 on D♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭, 1 on D♭.
How is Gdim different from the plain chord?
Gdim is Gm with the fifth lowered a half step (D becomes D♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.