Explore chords · Ukulele
G diminished chord on ukulele (Gdim)
Also called or written Gdim or G°
G diminished contains G, B♭, and D♭. The open shape uses one open string and three fretted notes, making it accessible for beginners.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
How do you play a G diminished chord on ukulele?
G diminished is played in open position as 0 1 3 1: index finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (1) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
BeginnerThe ring finger must reach the E string at fret 3 while the index and middle fingers hold the C and A strings at fret 1.
Gdim/D♭ inversion · 3-1-3-1
G diminished is played at the 1st fret as 3 1 3 1: ring finger on the G string at fret 3, index finger on the C string at fret 1, pinky finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 4 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
Gdim/D♭ inversion · ×-1-3-1
G diminished is played at the 1st fret as × 1 3 1: index finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
6th fret
G diminished is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 6 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 7 and middle finger on the E string at fret 6. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
G diminished is built from the 1, ♭3, ♭5 formula. The ♭5 interval gives the chord its dissonant quality. Compare it to G minor, which raises the fifth to D.
What goes wrong with G diminished?
- Muting the open G string with the fretting hand, which removes the root.
- Letting the ring finger collapse onto the A string, causing a buzz.
When to use it
G diminished works as a passing chord in F natural minor or A♭ major. It suits tense, mysterious passages in jazz and classical music.
Changing to and from G diminished
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives A♭ diminished.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives A diminished.
Which voicing to use
The open shape keeps G in the bass for a root-position sound. The Gdim/B♭ inversion puts B♭ in the bass, which gives a darker color.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G diminished written?
G diminished is written G° or Gdim. The root is G.
What is the difference between G diminished and G minor?
G diminished lowers the fifth from D to D♭, creating a tritone. G minor keeps the perfect fifth D.
Why is the G string open in the open shape?
The open G string is the root of G diminished. It rings freely as a chord tone.