Adim7 Chord on Guitar

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Adim7 is a diminished seventh chord made of 4 notes: A, C, E♭, G♭. It sounds spooky and suspenseful, and you hear it in passing chords, old film scores and dramatic moments; any note of it can be the root.

The library above opens on Adim7 with 14 shapes up and down the neck. Tap a shape to hear it, or play it one string at a time.

Notes in Adim7

NoteDegreeInterval from ASemitones
A1root0
C♭3minor third3
E♭♭5diminished fifth6
G♭𝄫7diminished seventh9

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7.

How to play Adim7

1324
Open positionEasyx01212
4fr132
Fret 4Beginnerx0454x
4fr2413
Fret 4Easy5645xx
7fr1324
Fret 7Easyxx7878
11fr2314
Fret 11Easyx(12)(13)(11)(13)x
5fr1234
E-shape barre at fret 5Medium567575

Fret 4 (root on the 5th string), step by step

  1. 1st finger (index): 4th string, 4th fret (G♭, the diminished seventh).
  2. 2nd finger (middle): 2nd string, 4th fret (E♭, the flat fifth).
  3. 3rd finger (ring): 3rd string, 5th fret (C, the minor third).
  4. Let the 5th string ring open (A).
  5. Strum from the 5th string, and keep the 6th string and 1st string quiet (touch the muted string lightly with the finger next to it).

Tips

The fret 4 shape is the one to learn first. Once it is easy, try the shape at the 7th fret (xx7878): the same chord, higher and brighter, handy when the chords before and after it sit up the neck.

Where Adim7 fits

Adim7 is not built from one major or minor scale, so it works as a colour or passing chord. Passing chords, old film scores and dramatic moments; any note of it can be the root.

Common questions

What notes are in Adim7?

A, C, E♭, G♭: the root, minor third, flat fifth, diminished seventh.

What is the easiest way to play Adim7?

Fret 4: x0454x (low string first), rated Beginner.

What is the difference between Adim7 and Adim?

Adim7 has G♭. Adim7 sounds spooky and suspenseful; Adim sounds tense and unstable.

Is Adim7 a hard chord?

No. The easiest shape is rated Beginner and needs 3 fingers.

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