G#dim Guitar Chord (G Sharp Diminished)

The G#dim guitar chord (G sharp diminished, also written A♭dim) has 3 notes: G♯, B and D. Below you'll find 5 shapes with diagrams, how to play it step by step, easier options, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

G♯dim guitar chord: 42x43x3142EADGBE
42x43x · at the 2nd fret
Notes
G♯ – B – D
Formula
1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Type
diminished
Also written
A♭dim
Difficulty
medium

Transpose a song

All 5 ways to play G#dim on guitar

  • G♯dim guitar chord: 42x43x3142
    42x43x at the 2nd fret
  • G♯dim guitar chord: 4201043214
    420104 open position
  • G♯dim guitar chord: xx67x76fr123
    xx67x7 at the 6th fret
  • G♯dim guitar chord: x-11-9-x-9-109fr4123
    x-11-9-x-9-10 at the 9th fret
  • G♯dim guitar chord: x-11-12-13-12-x11fr1243
    x-11-12-13-12-x at the 11th fret

Diagrams: strings run from the lowest on the left; X = don't play, O = open string, numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger).

How to play G#dim on guitar

Main shape: 42x43x (at the 2nd fret).

  1. Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th fret of the low E (6th) string.
  2. Put your index finger (1) on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) string.
  3. Put your little finger (4) on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
  4. Put your middle finger (2) on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string.
  5. Don't play the D (4th) or high E (1st) strings (marked X).
  6. Strum from the low E (6th) string down (4 strings).

G#dim notes and intervals

NoteFormulaInterval from the root
G♯ 1 root
B ♭3 minor 3rd
D ♭5 diminished 5th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: G♯dim/B (1st inversion) and G♯dim/D (2nd inversion).

Easier ways to play G#dim

  • Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Gdim shape: it sounds as G♯dim.

G#dim on piano and ukulele

  • G♯dim piano chord: G♯ B DBDG♯
    G♯dim on piano G♯ – B – D
  • G♯dim ukulele chord: 12421243
    G♯dim on ukulele 1242

Which keys use G#dim?

G♯dim is one of the basic chords of 2 keys. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

KeyWrittenNumeralFunction
A major G♯° vii° dominant
F♯ minor G♯° ii° predominant
A minor G♯° vii° dominant (harmonic minor)

Transpose G#dim

Move the chord up or down by semitones to see its name and notes in another key.

G♯dim G♯ B D original

Diminished chords on every root: E♭dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim G♯dim Adim B♭dim Bdim Cdim C♯dim Ddim

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the G#dim chord?

G♯dim has 3 notes: G♯, B and D. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5: G♯ is the root, B a minor 3rd and D a diminished 5th above it.

Is there an easy way to play G#dim?
  • Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Gdim shape: it sounds as G♯dim.
Is G#dim the same as Abdim?

Yes. G♯ and A♭ are two names for the same note (the same piano key and the same fret), so G♯dim and A♭dim sound the same and use the same shapes. The name follows the key: G♯° in A major and F♯ minor.

What key is G#dim in?

G♯dim is vii° in A major and ii° in F♯ minor. It is also vii° in A minor (harmonic minor, with the raised 7th). The other chords of A major are A, Bm, C♯m, D, E and F♯m.

How do you play G#dim on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is 42x43x (at the 2nd fret).

  1. Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th fret of the low E (6th) string.
  2. Put your index finger (1) on the 2nd fret of the A (5th) string.
  3. Put your little finger (4) on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
  4. Put your middle finger (2) on the 3rd fret of the B (2nd) string.
  5. Don't play the D (4th) or high E (1st) strings (marked X).
  6. Strum from the low E (6th) string down (4 strings).
Is G#dim hard to play on guitar?

It is a medium chord: the easiest shape (42x43x) has no barre and uses 4 fingers. Put a capo on the 1st fret and play the open Gdim shape: it sounds as G♯dim. (Difficulty here is a rough guide based on barres, stretches and the number of fingers.)

More chords

Related guitar chords: G#m Cdim Ddim Bdim Adim Ab7 Gdim G#

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