Piano chord
A♭dim7A flat diminished seventh
- A♭1
- C♭♭3
- E𝄫♭5
- G𝄫𝄫7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play A♭dim7 on piano
- Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on A♭, 2 on C♭, 3 on E𝄫, 5 on G𝄫.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 2 on E𝄫, 1 on G𝄫.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫 – G𝄫
1st inversion · C♭ – E𝄫 – G𝄫 – A♭
2nd inversion · E𝄫 – G𝄫 – A♭ – C♭
3rd inversion · G𝄫 – A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
A♭dim7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of A♭dim7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has A♭ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: E𝄫Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: G𝄫Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Chords that go with A♭dim7
The other chords of A minor, the key where A♭dim7 is home (vii°7). Songs in this key move between them.
A♭dim7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–C♭–E𝄫–G𝄫.
A♭dim7 on other instruments
About the A♭dim7 chord
The 4 notes of A flat diminished seventh are A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E𝄫 (♭5), G𝄫 (𝄫7). A diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked. Every note is three semitones from the next, so the same keys name four different chords.
The keys are A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫 – G𝄫, counted up from A♭; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold A♭dim7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of A♭dim7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E𝄫–G𝄫–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E𝄫 (E𝄫–G𝄫–A♭–C♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is G𝄫 (G𝄫–A♭–C♭–E𝄫).
Add G𝄫 to A♭dim and you have A♭dim7.
You meet A♭dim7 in these keys: A minor (vii°7).
Questions
What notes are in the A♭dim7 chord?
A♭dim7 (A flat diminished seventh) has 4 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E𝄫 (♭5), G𝄫 (𝄫7).
How many inversions does A♭dim7 have?
A♭dim7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (A♭–C♭–E𝄫–G𝄫); 1st inversion (C♭–E𝄫–G𝄫–A♭); 2nd inversion (E𝄫–G𝄫–A♭–C♭); 3rd inversion (G𝄫–A♭–C♭–E𝄫).
What is the difference between A♭dim7 and A♭dim?
Add G𝄫 to A♭dim and you have A♭dim7.
Can I play A♭dim7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position A♭dim7 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.