Cdim7
Cdim7 is the c diminished 7th chord, spelled C – E♭ – G♭ – A. perfectly symmetrical stacked minor thirds — the ultimate passing chord, able to resolve almost anywhere.
The keys
C – E♭ – G♭ – A
Practise this chord
Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let Coach Tshepho drill you on Cdim7 — it plays the chord, names any wrong notes as you play, and moves you on when you nail it.
Create your free account →What's inside Cdim7
| Note | Interval from root | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 |
| E♭ | Minor 3rd | b3 |
| G♭ | Diminished 5th | b5 |
| A (spelled B♭♭) | Diminished 7th | bb7 |
Inversions
| Position | Keys (low → high) |
|---|---|
| Root position | C4 – E♭4 – G♭4 – A4 |
| 1st inversion | E♭4 – G♭4 – A4 – C5 |
| 2nd inversion | G♭4 – A4 – C5 – E♭5 |
| 3rd inversion | A4 – C5 – E♭5 – G♭5 |
A working voicing
Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:
| Hand | Keys |
|---|---|
| Left (shell) | C2 – A2 |
| Right (colour) | E♭4 – G♭4 |
Where Cdim7 lives
As the ii chord
Cdim7 → F7 → B♭maj7
Minor-family sevenths live on the ii — this is the move they were born for.
Stepwise colour
C → Cdim7 → Dm7
Used as a passing colour between neighbouring chords.
Put Cdim7 under your fingers
Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.
Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →More C chords
C
Cm
Cdim
Caug
Csus2
Csus4
C6
Cm6
C7
Cmaj7
Cm7
Cm7♭5
Cm(maj7)
C9
Cmaj9
Cm9
Cadd9
C6/9
Cm11
C13
C7♭9
C7♯9
C7♯5Play it over a groove
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