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G diminished major 7th chord on ukulele (GdimMaj7)
Also called or written GdimMaj7, GdimM7, G°M7, G augmented minor seventh or G minor seventh sharp five
G diminished major 7th contains G, B♭, D♭ and F♯. The open position uses three fretted notes and one open string, making it the easiest shape in this set.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
- Root positionG–B♭–D♭–F♯GdimMaj70-1-2-1
- First inversionB♭–D♭–F♯–GGdimMaj7/B♭11-10-9-10
- Second inversionD♭–F♯–G–B♭GdimMaj7/D♭0-1-2-1
- Third inversionF♯–G–B♭–D♭GdimMaj7/F♯11-10-9-10
How do you play a G diminished major 7th chord on ukulele?
G diminished major 7th is played in open position as 0 1 2 1: index finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 2 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) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe middle finger on A string fret 1 must arch over the open G string without muting it.
GdimM7/B♭ inversion
G diminished major 7th is played at the 9th fret as 11 10 9 10: pinky finger on the G string at fret 11, middle finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | D♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (1) |
Why it sounds like that
G diminished major 7th is built 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7. The diminished 5th between G and D♭ is a tritone, and the major 7th F♯ is a leading tone to G. Compare it with G minor 7th flat 5th, which has F instead of F♯.
What goes wrong with G diminished major 7th?
- Letting the middle finger lean on the open G string and dampen it.
- Fretting the C string too far behind the fret, causing a buzz.
When to use it
G diminished major 7th appears in G minor as a passing chord, resolving to G minor or G major. Its leading tone suits gypsy minor and chromatic lines.
Changing to and from G diminished major 7th
- Slide the fretted notes up one fret to the 2nd fret to reach A♭ diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open position keeps G in the bass via the open G string. The GdimM7/F♯ inversion puts F♯ in the bass, creating a tense sound with the leading tone on the bottom.
Other G chords
Common questions
How is G diminished major 7th written?
G diminished major 7th is written G°M7 or GdimM7.
What is the difference between G diminished major 7th and G minor 7th flat 5th?
G diminished major 7th has a major 7th, F♯. G minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th, F.
Why does G diminished major 7th sound unstable?
G diminished major 7th contains a tritone between G and D♭, and the major 7th F♯ creates a strong pull to the root G.