G♯ diminished chord (G♯dim)
G♯dim is G♯, B and D: 1–♭3–♭5 built on G♯. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
4-2-0-1-0-4 · open · medium
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 4-2-0-1-0-4
G♯dim on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · G♯–B–D · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
G♯dim on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
4-2-4-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- G♯ · B · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 4-2-4-2
Changing out of G♯dim
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- G♯dim → A (leads up a half step)
Guitar: G♯dim (4-2-0-1-0-4) to A (x-0-2-2-2-0): move the index finger to the D string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: G♯dim to A: play A in root position (A–C♯–E), while G♯ moves up to A, B up to C♯ and D up to E. A - G♯dim → Am (leads up a half step)
Guitar: G♯dim (4-2-0-1-0-4) to Am (x-0-2-2-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, move the ring finger to the G string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once.
Piano: G♯dim to Am: play Am in root position (A–C–E), while G♯ moves up to A, B up to C and D up to E. Am - G♯dim → C♯m (iii in A major)
Guitar: G♯dim (4-2-0-1-0-4) to C♯m (x-4-6-6-5-4): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the B string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Listen for G♯, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: G♯dim to C♯m: play C♯m in 2nd inversion (G♯–C♯–E) and G♯ stays under the same finger, while B moves up to C♯ and D up to E. C♯m
How G♯dim is built
G♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. It sounds tense and unstable and rarely stays long. Its most common job is to lead up a half step, so G♯dim usually moves to A or Am.
From G♯, go 3 half steps up to B then 3 half steps up to D. Written with flats or sharps the other way round it's A♭dim; the sound is identical.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| G♯ | root | 0 | |
| B | minor third | 3 | |
| D | diminished fifth | 6 |
Keys and progressions with G♯dim
In major keys, G♯dim is vii° in A major. In minor keys it is ii° in F♯ minor.
Chords close to G♯dim
- G♯dim and G♯m differ by one note: D in G♯dim, D♯ in G♯m. They share G♯ and B. G♯m
Chords that share most of their notes with G♯dim: Ddim7, E7, Fdim7, G♯dim7, G♯m7♭5, Bm6.
Every G♯ chord
G♯ diminished chord: questions
What notes are in the G♯ diminished chord?
G♯, B and D. G♯dim is built 1–♭3–♭5 from G♯: B is the minor third and D is the diminished fifth.
How do you play G♯dim on guitar?
The usual shape is 4-2-0-1-0-4 (open). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play G♯dim on piano?
Play G♯, B and D with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. G♯ sits on the middle black key of the three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play G♯dim on ukulele?
4-2-4-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is G♯dim in?
In major keys, G♯dim is vii° in A major. In minor keys it is ii° in F♯ minor.
What's the difference between G♯dim and G♯m?
G♯dim and G♯m differ by one note: D in G♯dim, D♯ in G♯m. They share G♯ and B.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.