Piano chord
Fdim7F diminished seventh
- F1
- A♭♭3
- C♭♭5
- E𝄫𝄫7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Fdim7 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F, 2 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 5 on E𝄫.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F, 3 on A♭, 2 on C♭, 1 on E𝄫.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F – A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫
1st inversion · A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫 – F
2nd inversion · C♭ – E𝄫 – F – A♭
3rd inversion · E𝄫 – F – A♭ – C♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Fdim7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of Fdim7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has F at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: E𝄫Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Chords that go with Fdim7
The other chords of F sharp minor, the key where Fdim7 is home (vii°7). Songs in this key move between them.
Fdim7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F an octave lower, the right hand plays F–A♭–C♭–E𝄫.
Fdim7 on other instruments
About the Fdim7 chord
The 4 notes of F diminished seventh are F (1), A♭ (♭3), C♭ (♭5), E𝄫 (𝄫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 F and count up: F – A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫. The whole chord spans 9 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Fdim7 without stretching.
The inversions of Fdim7 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C♭–E𝄫–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E𝄫–F–A♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E𝄫 (E𝄫–F–A♭–C♭).
Add E𝄫 to Fdim and you have Fdim7.
Fdim7 belongs to F sharp minor (vii°7).
Questions
What notes are in the Fdim7 chord?
Fdim7 (F diminished seventh) has 4 notes: F (1), A♭ (♭3), C♭ (♭5), E𝄫 (𝄫7).
How many inversions does Fdim7 have?
Fdim7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F–A♭–C♭–E𝄫); 1st inversion (A♭–C♭–E𝄫–F); 2nd inversion (C♭–E𝄫–F–A♭); 3rd inversion (E𝄫–F–A♭–C♭).
What is the difference between Fdim7 and Fdim?
Add E𝄫 to Fdim and you have Fdim7.
Can I play Fdim7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Fdim7 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.