Adim7, diminished seventh chord
A, C, E♭ and G♭
- Root
- A
- Minor third
- C
- Diminished fifth
- E♭
- Diminished seventh
- G♭
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 (3, 6, 9 half steps above A)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | A | C | E♭ | G♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
A diminished 7 inversions
A diminished 7 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Adim7
Root position
| Notes | A | C | E♭ | G♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Adim7/C
First inversion
| Notes | C | E♭ | G♭ | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Adim7/E♭
Second inversion
| Notes | E♭ | G♭ | A | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Adim7/G♭
Third inversion
| Notes | G♭ | A | C | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with A diminished 7
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. A diminished 7 appears as:
- vii°7 in B♭ minor
How A diminished 7 is built
A is the root, C the minor third, E♭ the diminished fifth and G♭ the diminished seventh.
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means A diminished 7 uses the same four keys as C diminished 7, D♯ diminished 7 and F♯ diminished 7.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of A diminished 7 are A, C, E, G. That is why it is spelled A, C, E♭ and G♭.
Find A diminished 7 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of A diminished 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice A diminished 7 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the A diminished 7 chord?
A diminished 7 (Adim7) has four notes: A, C, E♭ and G♭. A is the root, C the minor third, E♭ the diminished fifth and G♭ the diminished seventh.
What fingers do you use for A diminished 7 on piano?
In root position, play A, C, E♭ and G♭ with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of A diminished 7?
A diminished 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Adim7/C): C, E♭, G♭ and A. Second inversion (Adim7/E♭): E♭, G♭, A and C. Third inversion (Adim7/G♭): G♭, A, C and E♭.
What key is A diminished 7 in?
A diminished 7 appears as vii°7 in B♭ minor.