°7 ( Diminished Seventh Chords ( dim7 or °7 ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a minor third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the note names of the rest of the chord.

In the example shown the name of the chord can be: G°7, D°7, F°7 and or B°7. Or, any Enharmonic Equivalent .

Harmonic Function for: Diminished Seventh

The Harmonic Function of a chord is simply how a chord is being used in a harmonic context with other chords in a song or chord progression.

Here are the most common harmonic functions for today's chord.

Diminished Seventh is a Full Diatonic , primary chord in the common Minor key(s) of:
G°7 functions as the (VII) chord in the key of Abm and
D°7 functions as the (VII) chord in the key of Ebm and
E#°7 functions as the (VII) chord in the key of F#m and
B°7 functions as the (VII) chord in the key of Cm

Learn a New Chord Each Day!!!

This Learn a New Chord Each Day!!! series of lessons was created and published in 2013 (13 yrs ago) and has been added to an expanded ever since. 2020 brought videos to the show. 2023 introduced more Harmonic information

For a further exploration of this chord and its movable forms visit the
Movable Ukulele Chords Lesson Series page.

Diminished Seventh is a Core Chord

A core chord is a basic chord that other chords can be derived from – creating new chords from your known chords. Your ever expanding set of core chords creates a solid foundation for playing music on ukulele or any instrument capable of playing chords. There are just far too many chord shapes to memorize all the possibilities. Some chords you can simply create on the fly as needed based on known information and how chords work.

Chord Type(s): Diminished 4-part

Chord Categories: Open Position

Understanding a Chord Diagram

Open Position chords typically do not show the location of the root or letter name of the chord, as these chords are the first chords a ukulele player learns. They are almost entirely learned by shape and sound–hopefully, the chord names. Later on, one develops the ability to determine the location of the chord root(s) or letter name within the chord.

Standard Music Notation and TAB

Standard music notation and TAB for C Tuning, Low and High G variations

The same numbering notation used in TAB can be used to describe the open strings and frets to be played when using text-only notation or verbal communications. Using an open position C as an example, we can describe it as 0003, indicating open strings four, three, and two with fret (3) being fingered on string one. An open position, D7 , indicated as 2020

As you can see that are numerous ways to describe a chord, either verbally Put your finger here…, in Standard Music Notation , TAB , and in text, graphically using a Chord Grid , etc.

Chord Spelling

Chord Spelling is simply knowing what the notes, the chord tones of a chord are.

The notes of all chords can be determined from its corresponding major scale based on the root of the chord and numeric formula.

The notes for Diminished Seventh are:

see note below

The chord tones are the 1 b3 5 bb7 scale degrees of the parent ? Major Scale .

Additional Information

NOTE: °7 ( _diminished seventh chords_ ( dim7 or °7 ) are neutral chords with all the notes of the chord being an equal distance apart, a minor third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord. The root will determine the note names of the rest of the chord. If you "REALLY", I mean "REALLY" know the notes of the ukulele fingerboard you only need an open position diminished seventh chord, and it's movable form.

Recommended Fingering(s)

Although additional fingerings are possible for many chords, fingering for any given chord depends on the science of how our fingers work and on the harmonic context the chord is being used in—what was the previous chord, and what's the next chord? The goal is to play all the notes right behind the frets when possible. Remember, longer fingers can reach the lower strings better, and finger two can stack on finger three, and finger three can stack on finger four.

Although you can play any chord with any finger as long as it's yours, the recommended fingering for Diminished Seventh is:

Recommended Fingering

0 2 0 3

Alternate Fingering(s)

Here are a few alternate fingerings for today’s Diminished Seventh chord depending on the context the chord is being used.

Alternate fingering(s) for Diminished Seventh:

- 0 3 0 4 - Sets you up nice for transposing to different keys along the fingerboard.

Fingering Notation

Fingering notation for a chord using text only, without using a chord grid, is typically done using the finger numbers from left to right, string four to string one (nose to toes). Here is the text notation for January 1st C chord.

A Typical text representation of a chord fingering without using a chord grid.

Note: A Zero (0) fingering notation represents an open string that doesn't require using a finger.

Fingering Chords

Additional alternate fingerings might be possible for selected chords. If there isn't an overwhelming musical reason for one fingering over another, let efficiency be the determining factor. Something as simple as longer fingers that can reach the lower strings four and three will go a long way to being efficient when switching chords.

Factors such as playing notes right behind the fret take less effort than in the middle of the fret. Less effort leads to overall efficiency; lower maintenance for maintaining your technique and efficiency leads to speed. This can help in determining what finger to use. Finger three can overlap finger four, and finger two can overlap finger three a little, allowing them to get closer to the fret.

Remember, the thumb's primary role is to support the fingers–not play notes. Think of the thumb as a Stagehand. He is unseen, doesn't get any lines, but is a critical member of the team. There are musical situations where you might use your thumb but they are mainly rhythmic / strumming reasons.

Chord Construction, Notes and Intervals

All chords can be constructed based on their intervals relative to the major scale of the root or letter name of the chord. The individual names of the notes of the chord can also be determined from the same scale.

The chord tones for Diminished Seventh are: see note below

Diminished Seventh is the 1 b3 5 bb7 of the ? Major Scale based on the root (?) of the chord.

dim or °7

A diminished seventh chord is a neutral chord with all the notes of the chords being an equal distance apart, a minor third. Any note of the chord can be the root or letter name of the chord.

Next Steps

After memorizing today's Diminished Seventh chord and when you are able to switch in time with other chords, the next step is adding various Strums , Fingerpicking patterns, and exploring the Movable Chord versions of today's chord, to your ukulele skills.

Previous Chord A Day

Next Chord A Day