Learn the Gdim Chord for Guitar: Theory & Application

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G dim position 1 guitar chord diagram

Gdim is the symbol for the G diminished chord, which contains G, Bb and Db (root, minor third and flat five). Because the fifth is flattened, the chord has no stable perfect fifth, and that missing stability is the source of its tension.

None of the 15 voicings uses an open string, so every one is fretted, one of them with a barre. Gdim is the vii chord of Ab major, the diminished triad on the seventh degree. Gdim fits inside the G Locrian scale: each of its notes is a member of that scale.

Use the player at the top of the page to hear how the chord sounds strummed and when its notes are played one by one.

G diminished guitar chord is also written as Gdim, G°, Gm(b5) or Gmb5.

G dim chord Notes:

G Bb Db

Chord Structure:

Formula: 1 b3 b5

G Dim Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Movable

G dim position 1 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the B string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the high E string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the G string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 2 Movable

G dim position 2 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 5 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 6 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 6 of the high E string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the B string

Position 3 Movable

G dim position 3 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 10 of the A string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 11 of the D string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 11 of the B string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 12 of the G string

Position 4 Movable

G dim position 24 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 6 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the D string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the B string

Position 5 Movable

G dim position 25 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the D string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the B string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 3 of the high E string

Position 6 Movable

G dim position 26 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 2 of the B string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the G string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 7 Movable

G dim position 27 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the G string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the A string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 5 of the D string

Position 8 Movable

G dim position 28 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the G string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 4 of the A string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 5 of the D string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 6 of the low E string

Position 9 Barre Movable

G dim position 29 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the D string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 6 of the G and high E strings at the same time
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the B string

Position 10 Movable

G dim position 30 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 6 of the G string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the D string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 10 of the A string

Position 11 Movable

G dim position 31 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the G string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the low E string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 10 of the A string

Position 12 Movable

G dim position 32 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the D string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 9 of the high E string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 11 of the B string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 12 of the G string

Position 13 Movable

G dim position 33 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the A string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 11 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 11 of the B string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 12 of the G string

Position 14 Movable

G dim position 34 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the low E string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 11 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 12 of the G string
  • Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 13 of the A string

Position 15 Movable

G dim position 35 guitar chord diagram

Finger Positions

  • Mute the G string
  • Mute the B string
  • Mute the high E string
  • Place your index finger (1) on the fret 11 of the D string
  • Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 13 of the A string
  • Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 15 of the low E string

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Play This Chord With Other Roots

C dim | D dim | E dim | F dim | G dim | A dim | B dim | C#dim | D#dim | F#dim | G#dim | A#dim | Abdim | Bbdim | Dbdim | Ebdim | Gbdim

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

FAQ

Which notes make up the Gdim chord?

Gdim contains G, Bb and Db. These are the root, minor third and flat fifth. Bb and Db are each a minor third from the note before.

How is G diminished different from a G minor triad?

G minor has G, Bb and D. Gdim lowers D to Db. With that flat fifth the chord loses its stable sound and gains a tritone with the root.

In which key does Gdim function as the vii chord?

Gdim is the vii chord of Ab major, the diminished triad on the seventh degree. All three notes belong to that key, and the chord leans toward Ab.

What scale suits Gdim?

The G Locrian scale, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, contains each note of Gdim, so it is a reliable pool for lines over the chord.

How many Gdim voicings does guitar offer?

There are 15 voicings, and 1 of them uses a barre. No voicing uses an open string. They run from fret 2 to fret 15.