What notes are in a G♯ diminished 7 chord?

G♯°7 contains four notes: G♯ (root), B (minor third), D (diminished fifth), and F (diminished seventh).

How does G♯°7 resolve?

In A minor: G♯ rises to A (the leading-tone resolution), B holds, D falls to C, and F falls to E. Every voice moves by half-step or whole-step to a chord tone.

Is G♯°7 the same as B°7?

Enharmonically yes — same four pitches in different inversions. G♯°7, B°7, D°7, and F°7 all share G♯, B, D, and F.

Where does G♯°7 appear in famous music?

Throughout A-minor literature: Bach's A-minor preludes and fugues, Mozart's A-minor sonata K. 310, Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata (which uses C°7 / G♯°7 enharmonically). It's one of the most-played dim7 chords in Western music.

G# diminished 7 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

G♯°7 — G♯, B, D, F — is the vii°7 of A minor and one of the most common dim7 chords in standard repertoire. The chord stacks three minor thirds and resolves powerfully to A minor. G♯°7 is enharmonically equivalent to B°7, D°7, and F°7.

Intervals

The G# diminished 7 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

G#→Bminor 3rd3 semitones
B→Dminor 3rd3 semitones
D→Fdiminished 7th9 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the G# diminished 7 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the G# diminished 7 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

G♯°7 is one of the most common dim7s in classical literature precisely because A minor is one of the most common keys. The chord mixes one sharp (G♯) with three naturals (B, D, F). The strong G♯ → A leading-tone resolution is what makes this chord function so powerfully.

In context

G♯°7 → A minor is the textbook leading-tone cadence in A minor — every voice resolves by half-step or whole-step to a tone of A minor (G♯ rises to A, B holds, D holds or falls to C, F falls to E). Bach uses G♯°7 constantly in his A-minor literature.

Drill it

The G# diminished 7 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

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Frequently asked

What notes are in a G♯ diminished 7 chord?: G♯°7 contains four notes: G♯ (root), B (minor third), D (diminished fifth), and F (diminished seventh).
How does G♯°7 resolve?: In A minor: G♯ rises to A (the leading-tone resolution), B holds, D falls to C, and F falls to E. Every voice moves by half-step or whole-step to a chord tone.
Is G♯°7 the same as B°7?: Enharmonically yes — same four pitches in different inversions. G♯°7, B°7, D°7, and F°7 all share G♯, B, D, and F.
Where does G♯°7 appear in famous music?: Throughout A-minor literature: Bach's A-minor preludes and fugues, Mozart's A-minor sonata K. 310, Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata (which uses C°7 / G♯°7 enharmonically). It's one of the most-played dim7 chords in Western music.