G sharp half-diminished (G#m7(b5)) chord on ukulele
- Notes
- G♯BDF♯
- Formula
- 1♭3♭5♭7
How to play G#m7(b5) on ukulele
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Shape 1 · fret 1
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Shape 2 · fret 4
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Shape 3 · fret 7
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Shape 4 · fret 10
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. x = do not play the string, o = open string. The coloured dot is the root (G sharp).
G#m7(b5) inversions on ukulele
The same G#m7(b5) with another chord note in the bass (the lowest note that sounds). The notes stay the same, but the colour changes, and the bass line can move by step from one chord to the next. In a chord symbol, the bass comes after the slash.
3rd (B) in the bass1st inversion · G#m7(b5)/B
5th (D) in the bass2nd inversion · G#m7(b5)/D
7th (F♯) in the bass3rd inversion · G#m7(b5)/F#
About the half-diminished chord
The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.
Notes and intervals of G#m7(b5)
G#m7(b5) (G sharp half-diminished) is built from 4 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- G♯ · 1 · root
- B · ♭3 · minor third
- D · ♭5 · diminished fifth
- F♯ · ♭7 · minor seventh
Other G sharp chords
- G#
- G#m
- G#7
- G#7M
- G#m7
- G#m7(b5)
- G#°
- G#°7
- G#+
- G#sus2
- G#sus4
- G#7sus4
- G#5
- G#add9
- G#6
- G#m6
- G#9
- G#m(add9)
- G#m9
- G#7M(9)
- G#m(7M)
- G#7M(#5)
- G#7(b9)
Half-diminished: other roots
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the G#m7(b5) chord on ukulele?
G#m7(b5) (G sharp half-diminished) has 4 fingerings on this page, from easiest to hardest. Each diagram shows the fingers, the open strings (o) and the strings you do not play (x), and you can hear every shape.
What notes are in G#m7(b5)?
The notes of G#m7(b5) are G♯, B, D, F♯. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7: root, minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.
What does G#m7(b5) mean?
G#m7(b5) is the chord symbol for G sharp half-diminished. The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.
Can I play G#m7(b5) on other instruments?
Yes. G#m7(b5) also has a page on guitar, on cavaquinho, with the fingerings for each instrument.