Bdim7, diminished seventh chord
B, D, F and A♭
- Root
- B
- Minor third
- D
- Diminished fifth
- F
- Diminished seventh
- A♭
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 (3, 6, 9 half steps above B)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | B | D | F | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
B diminished 7 inversions
B 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.
Bdim7
Root position
| Notes | B | D | F | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Bdim7/D
First inversion
| Notes | D | F | A♭ | B |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Bdim7/F
Second inversion
| Notes | F | A♭ | B | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Bdim7/A♭
Third inversion
| Notes | A♭ | B | D | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with B diminished 7
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. B diminished 7 appears as:
- vii°7 in C minor
How B diminished 7 is built
B is the root, D the minor third, F the diminished fifth and A♭ the diminished seventh.
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means B diminished 7 uses the same four keys as D diminished 7, F diminished 7 and G♯ diminished 7.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of B diminished 7 are B, D, F, A. That is why it is spelled B, D, F and A♭.
Find B 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 B diminished 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice B 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 B diminished 7 chord?
B diminished 7 (Bdim7) has four notes: B, D, F and A♭. B is the root, D the minor third, F the diminished fifth and A♭ the diminished seventh.
What fingers do you use for B diminished 7 on piano?
In root position, play B, D, F and A♭ 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 B diminished 7?
B diminished 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Bdim7/D): D, F, A♭ and B. Second inversion (Bdim7/F): F, A♭, B and D. Third inversion (Bdim7/A♭): A♭, B, D and F.
What key is B diminished 7 in?
B diminished 7 appears as vii°7 in C minor.