What notes are in a G♯ half-diminished chord?

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

How does G♯m7♭5 resolve?

In F♯ minor: G♯m7♭5 → C♯7 → F♯m. The chord prepares the dominant C♯7, which resolves to the F♯m tonic.

Is G♯m7♭5 the same as G♯ diminished?

No — G♯° (the triad) is just three notes (G♯-B-D); G♯m7♭5 adds a minor 7th (F♯) on top, creating a four-note half-diminished chord with different harmonic function.

Where does G♯ half-diminished appear in music?

In F♯-minor cadences across classical and jazz literature. Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony finale, Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto cadenza, and any F♯-minor jazz tune use this chord as the standard iiø7 setup.

G# half-diminished chord — notes, intervals, and practice

G♯ half-diminished (G♯m7♭5 or G♯ø) — G♯, B, D, F♯ — is the iiø7 of F♯ minor. The chord serves the standard minor-key cadence in F♯-minor literature and jazz. It shares its pitch set with neighbouring half-diminished chords through specific voice-leading relationships, but functionally it's the F♯-minor iiø7.

Intervals

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

G#→Bminor 3rd3 semitones
B→Dminor 3rd3 semitones
D→F#major 3rd4 semitones

On the keyboard

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

On the guitar

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

Common mistakes

G♯m7♭5 has G♯-B-D-F♯. Two sharps (G♯, F♯) plus two naturals (B, D). The natural fifth (D, lowered from D♯ which would be in G♯ minor) is what creates the half-diminished colour. Replacing D with D♯ makes G♯m7 (regular minor seventh).

In context

G♯m7♭5 → C♯7 → F♯m is the ii–V–i in F♯ minor. The chord appears in every F♯-minor jazz tune and in classical F♯-minor literature including Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony finale.

Drill it

The G# half-diminished 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♯ half-diminished chord?: G♯ half-diminished contains four notes: G♯ (root), B (minor third), D (diminished fifth), and F♯ (minor seventh).
How does G♯m7♭5 resolve?: In F♯ minor: G♯m7♭5 → C♯7 → F♯m. The chord prepares the dominant C♯7, which resolves to the F♯m tonic.
Is G♯m7♭5 the same as G♯ diminished?: No — G♯° (the triad) is just three notes (G♯-B-D); G♯m7♭5 adds a minor 7th (F♯) on top, creating a four-note half-diminished chord with different harmonic function.
Where does G♯ half-diminished appear in music?: In F♯-minor cadences across classical and jazz literature. Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony finale, Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto cadenza, and any F♯-minor jazz tune use this chord as the standard iiø7 setup.