How to learn music : Chords - The Diminished Seventh Chord

Chords work the same on all instruments, Guitar, Piano, or Vocal, it doesn't matter! Learn about the Diminished Seventh chord in this lesson.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Review the following. There are seven notes in the Major Scale (a heptatonic scale). Each note is called a degree. In the C Major Scale [C=1, D=2, E=3, F=4, G=5, A=6, B=7] For example, You would say, "E is scale degree 3 in the C Major Scale".

2. Construct the chord. The Diminished Seventh chord is built with the root, a Minor 3rd, a diminished 5th, and a diminished 7th. The formula is also written as "1 m3 d5 d7". B diminished 7 or Bdim7 is 'B (root),D (Minor 3rd), F( diminished 5th), and Ab (diminished 7th)"

3. Spell the chord with an intervallic description: The chord is a Minor 3rd (B to D), AND a minor 3rd (D to F), and another minor 3rd (F to Ab).

4. Learn the typical resolution of the Diminished seventh chord is to a chord built a half step higher than the root. Bdim7 resolves to C, Ddim7 resolves to Eb, Adim7 resolves to Gb, etc.

5. Continue your knowledge by learning about the half-diminished chord in the next lesson!

Tips & Warnings

• Become comfortable with sharps, flats, and intervals to make spelling chords easier!

[JasneJ]

on 1/14/2009 I love diminish chords.Thanks for the music information.