G Diminished Chord

Gdim Level 5: The Abyss

G Diminished (Gdim) is built from the notes G, Bb, Db. Its intervals are Root — Minor 3rd — Diminished 5th. Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

Hear G Diminished Chord

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Notes and intervals

Interval Semitones Note
Root 0 G
Minor 3rd 3 Bb
Diminished 5th 6 Db

What does g diminished chord sound like?

Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

G Diminished Chord in music

A tense passing chord that appears as vii° in Ab major. In jazz, G diminished creates chromatic tension that resolves to Ab or to G itself.

How to recognise g diminished chord by ear

Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished.

Practice identifying this chord in ChordFrog's Level 5: The Abyss .

Practice tip

G diminished is vii° in Ab major. Play Ab major → G diminished → Ab major to hear the resolution. G diminished has a particularly unsettled quality because its notes (G, Bb, Db) suggest multiple possible destinations.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in a G Diminished chord?
G Diminished (Gdim) contains three notes: G, Bb, Db. The intervals are Root, Minor 3rd, Diminished 5th.
How do I recognise G Diminished by ear?
Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished. Practice identifying G Diminished in ChordFrog's Level 5 (The Abyss).
What level is G Diminished in ChordFrog?
G Diminished is introduced at Level 5: The Abyss. This is the final level, adding diminished and augmented triads for the complete chord vocabulary.

Other G chords

G Major Chord G Minor Chord G Augmented Chord G Sus2 Chord G Sus4 Chord

All Diminished Chords chords

C Diminished Chord D♭ Diminished Chord D Diminished Chord E♭ Diminished Chord E Diminished Chord F Diminished Chord F♯ Diminished Chord A♭ Diminished Chord A Diminished Chord B♭ Diminished Chord B Diminished Chord

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