Piano Diagram of Gb dim in Root Position
The Gb dim chord is the diminished triad built upon the G-flat key. It is built by combining the Root note (Gb), the minor 3rd (Bbb), and the diminished 5th (Dbb) notes from the Gb scale. Keep reading to learn more about the music theory behind this chord.
Structure of Gb dim
Notes |
|---|
| Gb, Bbb, Dbb |
Intervals |
|---|
| R, m3, d5 |
Fingers Position
Left Hand |
|---|
| 4, 2, 1 |
Right Hand |
|---|
| 1, 2, 4 |
Gb dim Chord Inversions
The Gb dim chord has a total of 2 inversions:
| Root Position: | Gb | Bbb | Dbb |
| 1st Inversion: | Bbb | Dbb | Gb |
| 2nd Inversion: | Dbb | Gb | Bbb |
Piano Keyboard Diagrams
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- Gb dim Chord – Root Position
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- Gb dim Chord – 1st Inversion
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- Gb dim Chord – 2nd Inversion
Music Theory and Harmony of Gb diminished
What are Diminished Chords?
In music theory, diminished chords are classified as triads just like major, minor, and augmented chords. A diminished triad is a chord that has a root note, a minor 3rd, and a diminished 5th. They are often abbreviated with a small circle (°) or the letters “dim”. For example, an A diminished chord would be written as A° or Adim.
The interval between the root and the diminished 5th is called a “tritone” and creates a dissonant sound that adds tension and instability. Diminished triads are commonly used as transitional chords, leading to more stable chords.
Different types of Diminished Chords
- Diminished triads are usually considered unstable and are often used as transitional chords that create tension and lead to a more stable chord.
- There are also diminished seventh chords, which include an added diminished seventh interval above the root note. These chords are often written as °7 or dim7. They can also be used as a substitute for dominant 7th chords.
- Additionally, there are half-diminished chords (also known as minor seventh flat five chords), which include a minor seventh interval instead of a diminished seventh.
But for now, let’s explore the simpler diminished triad in the key of Gb.
Building the Gb dim Chord: Different Approaches
Starting from a Major Scale
To build a diminished chord, you begin by selecting the root note, the 3rd note, and the 5th note of the major scale. Next, you lower the 3rd and the 5th note by one half-step.
Gb Major Scale
Gb Major Scale – Keyless Notation
So, if you want to build a Gb diminished chord, you would start with the Gb major chord, which consists of the notes Gb, Bb, and Db. Then, you would lower the third note, Bb, by one half-step to get A (Bbb) and lower the fifth note, Db, by one more half-step to get C (Dbb). The resulting notes, G, Bb, and Db form the Gb diminished chord.
The reason we use the notations Bbb and Dbb instead of A and C is to preserve the basic structure of the chord. By doing so, we can quickly identify the root, third, and fifth notes of a chord. This helps to simplify the process of understanding and analyzing the structure of a chord, regardless of the key in which it is played.
by Combining 3rds
Alternatively, a diminished chord can be built by stacking two minor 3rd intervals on top of each other. To get this chord, you begin with the root note and then raise it by a minor 3rd. Next, you raise the third note by another minor 3rd. The resulting chord will consist of three notes that are spaced an equal distance apart.
m3 + m3 = diminished Chords
To form a Gb dim chord, you start with the root note Gb and raise it by a minor 3rd to A (Bbb). Then, you raise the third note A by another minor 3rd to C (Dbb). This results in a Gb dim chord consisting of the notes G, Bbb, and Dbb.
Gb dim in a Chord Progression
The tables below show the enharmonic equivalent keys for the Fb minor scale and its relative major scale, which are theoretical keys that include a Gb diminished chord. In the Fb minor scale, the Gb diminished chord is found on the second scale degree (II), while in the Abb major scale, it is found on the seventh scale degree (VII). Due to the high number of accidentals in these keys, it is more practical to refer to their enharmonic equivalent keys E minor and G major.
However, for a more comprehensive list of the uses of the Gb diminished chord, please refer to the dim7 tables, where I discuss some of the features of these chords in greater detail.
on Natural minor Scale
| Minor Scale | i | ii | III | iv | v | VI | VII |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fb = E | E min | F# dim = Gb dim | G Maj | A min | B min | C Maj | D Maj |
- Supertonic chord in E minor as F# dim
on Major Scale
| Major Scale | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abb = G | G Maj | A min | B min | C Maj | D Maj | E min | F# dim = Gb dim |
- Leading tone chord in G Major as F# dim
Gb dim in Fb Minor
Check F# dim in E Minor
Gb dim in Abb Major
Check F# dim in G Major
Alternative Names for Gb Diminished
- Gb°
- Gbdim
- Gb diminished
- G-flat diminished