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C diminished major 7th chord on ukulele (CdimMaj7)
Also called or written CdimMaj7, CdimM7, C°M7, C augmented minor seventh or C minor seventh sharp five
C diminished major 7th contains C, E♭, G♭ and B. The 5th fret shape is the same four-finger stretch as A, moved up three frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
How do you play a C diminished major 7th chord on ukulele?
C diminished major 7th is played at the 5th fret as 5 6 7 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, middle finger on the C string at fret 6, pinky finger on the E string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (1) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | G♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 4 | B (7) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must stretch to fret 7 on the E string while the ring finger holds fret 6 on the A string.
CdimM7/E♭ inversion
C diminished major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 4 3 2 3: pinky finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 3, index finger on the E string at fret 2 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (7) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 | G♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (1) |
Why it sounds like that
C diminished major 7th is built 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7. The diminished 5th between C and G♭ is a tritone, and the major 7th B is a leading tone to C. Compare it with C minor 7th flat 5th, which has B♭ instead of B.
What goes wrong with C diminished major 7th?
- Letting the pinky mute the A string by flattening.
- Pressing the middle finger too far from the fret, causing the C string to buzz.
When to use it
C diminished major 7th works as a passing chord in C minor, resolving to C minor or C major. Its leading tone suits jazz and whole-half scale runs.
Changing to and from C diminished major 7th
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 4th fret to reach B diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 5th fret position keeps C in the bass. The CdimM7/B inversion puts B in the bass, creating a tense sound with the leading tone on the bottom.
Other C chords
Common questions
How is C diminished major 7th written?
C diminished major 7th is written C°M7 or CdimM7.
What is the difference between C diminished major 7th and C minor 7th flat 5th?
C diminished major 7th has a major 7th, B. C minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th, B♭.
How does this supplied chord create its distinctive sound?
C diminished major 7th uses G♭ because the diminished 5th from C is six semitones, and G♭ is the correct spelling in a C context.