How to learn music : Chords - The Half Diminished Seventh Chord

Chords work the same on all instruments, Guitar, Piano, or Vocal, it doesn't matter! Learn about the Half-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 minor 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 A (minor 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 a major 3rd (F to A). The half-diminished seventh chord is a diminished triad with a minor 7th added.

4. Learn the typical resolution of the Diminished seventh chord is to a chord built a half step higher than the root. B half-dim7 resolves to C, D half-dim7 resolves to Eb, A half-dim7 resolves to Gb, etc. A half diminished chord resolves the same as a fully diminished chord

5. Continue your knowledge by spelling the half-diminished chord in all twelve major keys!

Tips & Warnings

• The foundation of Diminished and half-diminished chords is the DIMINISHED TRIAD. the difference between the two chords is the 7th of the chord.

[MariM]

on 1/13/2009 Thanks for the tips, I play guitar. I only know a few chords though.

[meacham01]

on 1/3/2009 I like your explanations. This article will be of great help.
You even struck a chord with me ( picture on the introduction)...just kidding, however I do like the pic.