G diminished chord on piano (Gdim)
Gdim is G, B♭ and D♭. You'll find G between the first two black keys of the three (a white key). Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.
root position · G–B♭–D♭ · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- G · B♭ · D♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
How to play Gdim on piano
Count keys (black and white) from G: 3 half steps up to B♭ then 3 half steps up to D♭. Those 3 keys are Gdim.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B♭ and 5 on D♭.
- Left hand: 5 on G, 3 on B♭ and 1 on D♭.
- On the keyboard it's white, black and black keys, the same pattern as Cdim, so your hand shape carries over.
Gdim inversions
- root position: G–B♭–D♭. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: B♭–D♭–G, B♭ lowest. Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: D♭–G–B♭, D♭ lowest. Right hand 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
Moving between Gdim and its neighbours
Songs rarely hold Gdim for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.
- A♭ (leads up a half step): Gdim 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♭ on piano
- G♯m (leads up a half step): Gdim to G♯m: play G♯m in root position (G♯–B–D♯), while G moves up to G♯, B♭ up to B and D♭ up to D♯. G♯m on piano
- Cm (iii in A♭ major): Gdim to Cm: play Cm in 2nd inversion (G–C–E♭) and G stays under the same finger, while B♭ moves up to C and D♭ up to E♭. Cm on piano
Gdim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. Gdim rarely stays long; it's a passing chord that usually climbs a half step to the next chord. Play it solid and then broken to hear the difference.
Practice Gdim in two minutes
Roll the chord up and back down, G, B♭, D♭, B♭, G, before playing it as a block. Finish with the inversions in order: G–B♭–D♭; B♭–D♭–G; D♭–G–B♭.
The keys of Gdim
Gdim is a diminished chord, 1–♭3–♭5 from G. Root position, from the bottom: how Gdim is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| G | white key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| B♭ | black key | RH 3 · LH 3 | minor third |
| D♭ | black key | RH 5 · LH 1 | diminished fifth |
Gdim in context
Gdim on guitar and ukulele
Gdim on guitar and ukulele uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Next to try on piano
Other diminished chords
Gdim on piano: questions
What notes are in Gdim on piano?
G, B♭ and D♭: G (white key), B♭ (black key) and D♭ (black key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play Gdim on piano?
Press G, B♭ and D♭ together (2 black, 1 white). Right hand: 1 on G, 3 on B♭ and 5 on D♭.
What are the inversions of Gdim?
1st inversion (B♭–D♭–G) and 2nd inversion (D♭–G–B♭), after root position (G–B♭–D♭). Each keeps all the notes of the chord.
What does Gdim look like on the keyboard?
white, black and black keys, the same pattern as Cdim, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes G, B♭ and D♭ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.