What notes are in a G♯7 chord?

G♯7 contains four notes: G♯ (root), B♯ (major third — same as C), D♯ (perfect fifth), and F♯ (minor seventh).

Is G♯7 the same as A♭7?

Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. G♯7 lives in C♯-minor contexts; A♭7 lives in flat-side music. A♭7 is much more common in published jazz charts.

Why is the third B♯ and not C?

Major scales use each of the seven letters exactly once. The G♯ major scale runs G♯-A♯-B♯-C♯-D♯-E♯-F𝄪; the third of G♯7 must sit on the B letter, which is B♯.

When would I see G♯7 in real music?

As the V7 of C♯ minor — every C♯-minor cadence in classical and jazz literature uses G♯7. Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata is the most famous example. In flat-key contexts the same chord is written A♭7.

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

G♯ dominant 7 (G♯7) — G♯, B♯, D♯, F♯ — is G♯ major with a minor 7th. Three sharps plus the sharp-of-sharp B♯ (enharmonic to C). The chord is the V7 of C♯ major and the V7 of C♯ minor; the enharmonic A♭7 is the more common spelling in flat-key contexts.

Intervals

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

G#→B#major 3rd4 semitones
B#→D#minor 3rd3 semitones
D#→F#minor 3rd3 semitones

On the keyboard

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

On the guitar

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

1G#
3B#
5D#
♭7F#

Common mistakes

G♯7 has B♯ as its third (enharmonic to C natural). In sharp-key contexts (C♯ major literature) the B♯ spelling preserves the seven-letter rule; in jazz lead sheets the same chord usually appears as A♭7. The chord is most often encountered as the V7 of C♯ minor — even though G♯ major itself is theoretical.

In context

G♯7 is the V7 of C♯ major (G♯7 → C♯maj7, in F♯-major contexts) and the V7 of C♯ minor (G♯7 → C♯m). The latter is the more common practical use; Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata in C♯ minor uses G♯7 → C♯m at every cadence.

Drill it

The G# dominant 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♯7 chord?: G♯7 contains four notes: G♯ (root), B♯ (major third — same as C), D♯ (perfect fifth), and F♯ (minor seventh).
Is G♯7 the same as A♭7?: Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. G♯7 lives in C♯-minor contexts; A♭7 lives in flat-side music. A♭7 is much more common in published jazz charts.
Why is the third B♯ and not C?: Major scales use each of the seven letters exactly once. The G♯ major scale runs G♯-A♯-B♯-C♯-D♯-E♯-F𝄪; the third of G♯7 must sit on the B letter, which is B♯.
When would I see G♯7 in real music?: As the V7 of C♯ minor — every C♯-minor cadence in classical and jazz literature uses G♯7. Beethoven's "Moonlight" Sonata is the most famous example. In flat-key contexts the same chord is written A♭7.