Piano chord
Adim7A diminished seventh
- A1
- C♭3
- E♭♭5
- G♭𝄫7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Adim7 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.
Adim7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on A; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: ARight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: CRight 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 Adim7
The other chords of B flat minor, the key where Adim7 is home (vii°7). Songs in this key move between them.
Adim7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays A an octave lower, the right hand plays A–C–E♭–G♭.
Adim7 on other instruments
About the Adim7 chord
To build A diminished seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: 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 Adim7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Adim7 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♭).
Compared with Adim, Adim7 has one more note, G♭.
You meet Adim7 in these keys: B flat minor (vii°7).
Questions
What notes are in the Adim7 chord?
Adim7 (A diminished seventh) has 4 notes: A (1), C (♭3), E♭ (♭5), G♭ (𝄫7).
How many inversions does Adim7 have?
Adim7 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 Adim7 and Adim?
Compared with Adim, Adim7 has one more note, G♭.
Can I play Adim7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Adim7 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.