Tools / Chords / A diminished 7th

A diminished 7th chord on ukulele (Adim7)

Also written Adim7 or A°7

Ukulele · Adim7/E♭ inversion · fret 2

A diminished 7th is built from A, C, E♭, G♭. This advanced four-fret stretch demands precise finger independence across the middle of the neck.

Adim7/E♭ inversion · fret 22-3-2-3

Positions on the neck1 of 5

How it’s built

A1Root

C♭3Minor 3rd

E♭♭5Diminished 5th

G♭♭♭7Minor 7th

Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7

Positions on the neck1 of 5

Inversions

The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.

Root positionA–C–E♭–G♭Adim7Bass A

First inversionC–E♭–G♭–AAdim7/CBass C

Second inversionE♭–G♭–A–CAdim7/E♭Bass E♭

Third inversionG♭–A–C–E♭Adim7/G♭Bass G♭

Why it sounds like that

A diminished 7th stacks minor thirds: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. The ♭♭7 is the same pitch as a major sixth, but spelling it as a diminished seventh keeps the chord's symmetry. Compare it with A minor 7th flat 5th, which has a minor seventh instead of a diminished seventh.

What goes wrong with A diminished 7th?

Letting the index finger collapse and mute the C string.
Pressing the pinky on the A string fret 3 without enough arch, deadening the E string.
Strumming before all four fingers are firmly placed.

When to use it

A diminished 7th works as a passing chord between A minor 7th flat 5th and B minor. Its tense, symmetrical sound suits jazz turnarounds and dramatic pauses in ballads.

Changing to and from A diminished 7th

Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives A♭ diminished 7th.
Sliding the shape up two frets to the 4th fret gives B diminished 7th.

Which voicing to use

The 2nd fret voicing puts A in the bass, giving the most direct root-position sound. The Adim7/C inversion at the 5th fret places C in the bass, which softens the chord's attack and works well when moving to a B chord.

How do you play an A diminished 7th chord on ukulele?

Adim7/E♭ inversion · fret 2

Intermediate● On the diagram

A diminished 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 2 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 3, middle finger on the E string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.

Tip — The pinky must reach fret 3 on the A string while the ring finger holds fret 3 on the C string, creating a wide stretch.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	2	1	A (1)
3 (C)	3	3	E♭ (♭5)
2 (E)	2	2	G♭ (♭♭7)
1 (A)	3	4	C (♭3)

Adim7/E♭ inversion · open position

Intermediate

A diminished 7th is played in open position as 5 3 2 0: ring finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the C string at fret 3 and index finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string rings open.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	5	3	C (♭3)
3 (C)	3	2	E♭ (♭5)
2 (E)	2	1	G♭ (♭♭7)
1 (A)	open	—	A (1)

Adim7/G♭ inversion

Intermediate

A diminished 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 6 5 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 6.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	5	1	C (♭3)
3 (C)	6	3	G♭ (♭♭7)
2 (E)	5	2	A (1)
1 (A)	6	4	E♭ (♭5)

8th fret

Intermediate

A diminished 7th is played at the 8th fret as 8 9 8 9: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 9.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	8	1	E♭ (♭5)
3 (C)	9	3	A (1)
2 (E)	8	2	C (♭3)
1 (A)	9	4	G♭ (♭♭7)

Adim7/C inversion

Intermediate

A diminished 7th is played at the 11th fret as 11 12 11 12: index finger on the G string at fret 11, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, middle finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.

String-by-string breakdown

String	Fret	Finger	Note
4 (G)	11	1	G♭ (♭♭7)
3 (C)	12	3	C (♭3)
2 (E)	11	2	E♭ (♭5)
1 (A)	12	4	A (1)

Common questions

How is A diminished 7th written?

A diminished 7th is written A°7 or Adim7. The root is A. The chord is sometimes called A diminished seventh.

How does this supplied chord create its distinctive sound?

Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony. Spelling it G♭ keeps the chord's formula as 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. Check the exact supplied position before changing register or fingering.

How does A diminished 7th differ from A minor 7th flat 5th?

A minor 7th flat 5th has a minor seventh, G, while A diminished 7th has a diminished seventh, G♭. That one-semitone difference makes the diminished chord sound more tense and symmetrical.

Can I play A diminished 7th with a barre?

No, the 2nd fret voicing uses four separate fingers. A barre would fret the G and E strings at fret 2, but you still need fingers for the C and A strings at fret 3.

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

A (1)

3 (C)

E♭ (♭5)

2 (E)

G♭ (♭♭7)

1 (A)

C (♭3)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

C (♭3)

3 (C)

E♭ (♭5)

2 (E)

G♭ (♭♭7)

1 (A)

open

—

A (1)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

C (♭3)

3 (C)

G♭ (♭♭7)

2 (E)

A (1)

1 (A)

E♭ (♭5)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

E♭ (♭5)

3 (C)

A (1)

2 (E)

C (♭3)

1 (A)

G♭ (♭♭7)

String

Fret

Finger

Note

4 (G)

G♭ (♭♭7)

3 (C)

C (♭3)

2 (E)

E♭ (♭5)

1 (A)

A (1)