C diminished seventh chord on piano
Cdim7 · C°7 — four notes a minor third apart: very tense, it leads to almost any chord.
| Notes | C – E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ (= A) |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭♭7 |
| Symbols | Cdim7, C°7 |
| Fingering (root position) | Right hand 1 2 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 2 1 |
How to play C diminished seventh on the piano
Start on C (middle C is a good place). Add E♭, G♭, B♭♭. 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 C diminished seventh. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.
Root position
C – E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
1st inversion
E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ – C · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
2nd inversion
G♭ – B♭♭ – C – E♭ · RH 1 2 4 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
3rd inversion
B♭♭ – C – E♭ – G♭ · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 4 2 1
Other C chords
C majorC minorC diminishedC augmentedC sus2C sus4C6C7C major seventhC minor seventhC half-diminished
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