G♯ half-diminished 7th chord on piano
G♯m7♭5 is a half-diminished 7th chord built on G♯. It uses the notes G♯ - B - D - F♯ and sounds moody and searching; it often leads to a dominant chord. It is also written as A♭ half-diminished 7th.
- Notes
- G♯ B D F♯
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- G♯m7♭5
How to play G♯m7♭5 step by step
- Find G♯. G♯ is the middle black key in each group of three. The same key is also called A♭.
- Add B, 3 half steps above G♯.
- Add D, 6 half steps above G♯.
- Add F♯, 10 half steps above G♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
G♯m7♭5 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the G♯ half-diminished 7th chord?
The G♯ half-diminished 7th chord (G♯m7♭5) contains 4 notes: G♯, B, D, F♯. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7.
How do you play G♯m7♭5 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on G♯ and play G♯, B, D, F♯ together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is G♯ half-diminished 7th the same as A♭ half-diminished 7th?
Yes. G♯ half-diminished 7th and A♭ half-diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.