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Piano chord

Cdim7C diminished seventh

  • C1
  • E♭♭3
  • G♭♭5
  • B𝄫𝄫7
Notes
4
Positions
4
Span
9semitones
Fingers
1-2-3-5

How to play Cdim7 on piano

  1. Find C: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on C, 2 on E♭, 3 on G♭, 5 on B𝄫.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on C, 3 on E♭, 2 on G♭, 1 on B𝄫.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. Cdim7 on piano, Root position: C E♭ G♭ B𝄫C, E♭, G♭, B𝄫CB𝄫E♭G♭1523
    Cdim7 on piano, Root position: C E♭ G♭ B𝄫C, E♭, G♭, B𝄫CB𝄫E♭G♭5132

    Root position · C – E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫

  2. Cdim7 on piano, 1st inversion: E♭ G♭ B𝄫 CE♭, G♭, B𝄫, CB𝄫CE♭G♭3512
    Cdim7 on piano, 1st inversion: E♭ G♭ B𝄫 CE♭, G♭, B𝄫, CB𝄫CE♭G♭2153

    1st inversion · E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫 – C

  3. Cdim7 on piano, 2nd inversion: G♭ B𝄫 C E♭G♭, B𝄫, C, E♭B𝄫CG♭E♭2315
    Cdim7 on piano, 2nd inversion: G♭ B𝄫 C E♭G♭, B𝄫, C, E♭B𝄫CG♭E♭3251

    2nd inversion · G♭ – B𝄫 – C – E♭

  4. Cdim7 on piano, 3rd inversion: B𝄫 C E♭ G♭B𝄫, C, E♭, G♭B𝄫CE♭G♭1235
    Cdim7 on piano, 3rd inversion: B𝄫 C E♭ G♭B𝄫, C, E♭, G♭B𝄫CE♭G♭5321

    3rd inversion · B𝄫 – C – E♭ – G♭

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

Cdim7 inversions

Here are all 4 positions of Cdim7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has C at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.

Chords that go with Cdim7

The other chords of C sharp minor, the key where Cdim7 is home (vii°7). Songs in this key move between them.

Cdim7 with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays C an octave lower, the right hand plays C–E♭–G♭–B𝄫.

Cdim7 with two handsC, C, E♭, G♭, B𝄫CCB𝄫E♭G♭51523

Cdim7 on other instruments

About the Cdim7 chord

The 4 notes of C diminished seventh are C (1), E♭ (♭3), G♭ (♭5), B𝄫 (𝄫7). A diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked. Every note is three semitones from the next, so the same keys name four different chords.

Put your thumb on C and count up: C – E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫. The whole chord spans 9 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Cdim7 without stretching.

The inversions of Cdim7 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–G♭–B𝄫–C). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–B𝄫–C–E♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B𝄫 (B𝄫–C–E♭–G♭).

Add B𝄫 to Cdim and you have Cdim7.

Cdim7 belongs to C sharp minor (vii°7).

Questions

What notes are in the Cdim7 chord?

Cdim7 (C diminished seventh) has 4 notes: C (1), E♭ (♭3), G♭ (♭5), B𝄫 (𝄫7).

How many inversions does Cdim7 have?

Cdim7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C–E♭–G♭–B𝄫); 1st inversion (E♭–G♭–B𝄫–C); 2nd inversion (G♭–B𝄫–C–E♭); 3rd inversion (B𝄫–C–E♭–G♭).

What is the difference between Cdim7 and Cdim?

Add B𝄫 to Cdim and you have Cdim7.

Can I play Cdim7 with one hand?

Yes. In root position Cdim7 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More C chords