G Diminished 7th
Gdim7
Notes
G · Bb · Db · Fb
Intervals
- RootG (1P)
- Minor 3rdBb (3m)
- Diminished 5thDb (5d)
- Diminished 7thFb (7d)
Fretboard
On the fretboard, E represents Fb.
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About
The G fully diminished 7 (G–B♭–D♭–F♭) stacks four minor thirds, giving it a fully symmetrical structure. Each note can be respelled as a root — G°7 is enharmonically the same chord as B♭°7, D♭°7, and F♭°7 — meaning a single shape on the guitar can function as four different leading-tone chords depending on context. This flexibility makes dim7 especially useful as a passing or substitution chord, often resolving up a half step (here to A♭). All four tones carry the chord’s identity; the chord is defined by its symmetry, so removing any note weakens that quality. On guitar, one shape repeats identically every three frets. Compared to Gm7♭5, dim7 is more unstable and dramatically tense.
Similar chords
Chords sharing two or more notes with this one, ranked by overlap.
Scales containing this chord
- G Diminished (deg 1)
- A♭ Diminished (deg 8)
- A♭ Harmonic Minor (VII)
- B Diminished (deg 6)
- B Harmonic Minor (VI)
- B♭ Diminished (deg 7)
- D Diminished (deg 4)
- D Harmonic Minor (IV)
- E Diminished (deg 3)
- F Diminished (deg 2)
- F Harmonic Minor (II)
Scales whose notes include every chord tone. Roman numeral marks the chord root’s position in the scale; dashed badges aren’t linked yet.