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Piano chord

G♯°7 Piano Chord

G♯°7 is a diminished 7th chord rooted on G♯. Four notes stacked in minor thirds, perfectly symmetrical. Maximum tension, and it can resolve in four directions at once.

The notes

4 notes. Every inversion below is these same notes in a different order.

G♯1
B♭3
D♭5
F𝄫7

How to play it

Root position first, then each inversion. Numbers next to each note are right-hand fingers — 1 is the thumb. Tap a key to hear it, or play the whole chord.

Root position
G♯1B2D3F5

The root is on the bottom — planted and stable.

1st inversion
B1D2F3G♯5

b3 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

2nd inversion
D1F2G♯3B5

b5 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

3rd inversion
F1G♯2B3D5

bb7 in the bass — same chord, new posture.

Which inversion should you use?

Whichever one your hand is already near. Inversions exist so consecutive chords can share keys — instead of jumping the whole hand to a new root position, you move a finger or two and the chords melt into each other. That is most of what separates piano playing that sounds smooth from piano playing that sounds like a series of separate grabs.

Diminished 7th chords in other keys

Take it further