A diminished seventh chord on piano
Adim7 · A°7 — four notes a minor third apart: very tense, it leads to almost any chord.
| Notes | A – C – E♭ – G♭ |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭♭7 |
| Symbols | Adim7, A°7 |
| Fingering (root position) | Right hand 1 2 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 2 1 |
How to play A diminished seventh on the piano
Start on A. Add C, E♭, G♭. With the right hand use fingers 1 2 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 2 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.
Inversions
The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays A diminished seventh. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.
Root position
A – C – E♭ – G♭ · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
1st inversion
C – E♭ – G♭ – A · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
2nd inversion
E♭ – G♭ – A – C · RH 1 2 4 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
3rd inversion
G♭ – A – C – E♭ · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 4 2 1
Other A chords
A majorA minorA diminishedA augmentedA sus2A sus4A6A7A major seventhA minor seventhA half-diminished
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