Gdim7 chord on guitar

Gdim7 is G, B♭, D♭ and F♭. The usual shape is 3-1-2-0-2-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

3-1-2-0-2-0 · open · medium

Notes: G · B♭ · D♭ · F♭
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
First shape: 3-1-2-0-2-0

How to play Gdim7 on guitar

Shape 1, 3-1-2-0-2-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

Put your index finger on the A string at the 1st fret, which is B♭.
Put your middle finger on the D string at the 2nd fret, which is F♭.
Put your ring finger on the B string at the 2nd fret, which is D♭.
Put your pinky finger on the low E string at the 3rd fret, which is G.
The open G and high E strings add G and F♭; don't touch them.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.

Other ways to play Gdim7

3-x-2-3-2-x: movable shape at the 2nd fret, medium. Root on the 6th string: move it up or down and it names a different diminished seventh chord.
x-10-11-9-11-x: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-5-6-5-6: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Gdim7 chord changes

The chords Gdim7 usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

A♭ (leads up a half step): Gdim7 (3-1-2-0-2-0) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 5th fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. A♭ on guitar
G♯m (leads up a half step): Gdim7 (3-1-2-0-2-0) to G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 6th fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. G♯m on guitar
C (a fifth down): Gdim7 (3-1-2-0-2-0) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): your middle finger stays put, move the index finger to the B string, 1st fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 3rd fret. Shared notes: G and F♭. C on guitar

Gdim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. Gdim7 can stand in for a dominant seventh a half step below, which is why it links chords so smoothly. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting Gdim7 under your fingers

Before strumming, play 3-1-2-0-2-0 note by note: G then B♭ then F♭ then G then D♭ then F♭. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Then switch to 3-x-2-3-2-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

Gdim7 in context

Gdim7 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: Gdim7 on piano and Gdim7 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Close to Gdim7

Other diminished seventh chords

Gdim7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Gdim7 on guitar?

G, B♭, D♭ and F♭. In the 3-1-2-0-2-0 shape the strings play G (low E string), B♭ (A string), F♭ (D string), G (G string, open), D♭ (B string) and F♭ (high E string, open), so G and F♭ are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Gdim7 on guitar?

The friendliest Gdim7 shape is 3-1-2-0-2-0. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.

Is Gdim7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: 3-1-2-0-2-0 needs no barre.

Which string does Gdim7 start on?

In the 3-1-2-0-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 3rd fret, which is G, the root.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Gdim7. Updated September 2026.