Also written G7♭5, G or G Dominant 7th Flat 5
G 7th flat 5 is built from G, B, D♭, and F. The default voicing uses an open G string, giving the chord a resonant, low-register foundation.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
G 7th flat 5 uses the formula 1, 3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished fifth between G and D♭ is the defining interval, creating a tritone that demands resolution. Compare it to G 7th, which has a perfect fifth instead.
G 7th flat 5 works as a dominant chord in jazz and blues, often resolving to C major or C minor. Try it in a ii–V–I in F major: Gm7–C7–Fmaj7, substituting G7♭5 for C7. Its tense sound suits funk and fusion comping.
The open voicing places D♭ in the bass, creating a first inversion that emphasizes the tritone. For a root position with G in the bass, use the 6th fret shape. The 4th fret voicing puts F in the bass, giving a darker inversion.
G 7th flat 5 is played in open position as 0 1 1 2: index finger on the C string at fret 1, middle finger on the E string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 2. The G string rings open.
Tip — The index and middle fingers must fret adjacent strings at the same fret without muting the open G string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 2 | F (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 3 | B (3) |
G 7th flat 5 is played at the 3rd fret as 4 5 3 4: middle finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 2 | B (3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 4 | F (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 1 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 3 | D♭ (♭5) |
G 7th flat 5 is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 7 8: index finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 7, ring finger on the E string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (1) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (♭7) |
G 7th flat 5 is played at the 9th fret as 10 11 9 10: middle finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the C string at fret 11, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 4 | B (3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (1) |
G 7th flat 5 is played in open position as 0 5 7 4: middle finger on the C string at fret 5, ring finger on the E string at fret 7 and index finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 3 | B (3) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
G 7th flat 5 is written as G7♭5 or G7b5. The symbol G alone is not used for this chord.
G 7th flat 5 lowers the fifth from D to D♭, creating a diminished fifth. G 7th has a perfect fifth, giving it a more stable sound.
The tritone between G and D♭ creates dissonance that wants to resolve. This tension is typical of dominant chords in jazz harmony.