Cdim7, diminished seventh chord
C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫
- Root
- C
- Minor third
- E♭
- Diminished fifth
- G♭
- Diminished seventh
- B𝄫
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 (3, 6, 9 half steps above C)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | C | E♭ | G♭ | B𝄫 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
B𝄫 is played on the white key A.
C diminished 7 inversions
C 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.
Cdim7
Root position
| Notes | C | E♭ | G♭ | B𝄫 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Cdim7/E♭
First inversion
| Notes | E♭ | G♭ | B𝄫 | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Cdim7/G♭
Second inversion
| Notes | G♭ | B𝄫 | C | E♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Cdim7/B𝄫
Third inversion
| Notes | B𝄫 | C | E♭ | G♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Where C diminished 7 fits
Its notes do not all belong to one major key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
How C diminished 7 is built
C is the root, E♭ the minor third, G♭ the diminished fifth and B𝄫 the diminished seventh.
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means C diminished 7 uses the same four keys as D♯ diminished 7, F♯ diminished 7 and A diminished 7.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of C diminished 7 are C, E, G, B. That is why it is spelled C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫.
Find C 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 C diminished 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice C 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 C diminished 7 chord?
C diminished 7 (Cdim7) has four notes: C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫. C is the root, E♭ the minor third, G♭ the diminished fifth and B𝄫 the diminished seventh. B𝄫 is played on the white key A.
What fingers do you use for C diminished 7 on piano?
In root position, play C, E♭, G♭ and B𝄫 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 C diminished 7?
C diminished 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Cdim7/E♭): E♭, G♭, B𝄫 and C. Second inversion (Cdim7/G♭): G♭, B𝄫, C and E♭. Third inversion (Cdim7/B𝄫): B𝄫, C, E♭ and G♭.
What is a diminished seventh chord?
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means C diminished 7 uses the same four keys as D♯ diminished 7, F♯ diminished 7 and A diminished 7.