Abdim7 Chord (Ab diminished 7th) on Guitar
Abdim7 (Ab diminished 7th) is made of the notes Ab – Cb – Ebb – Gbb. The easiest guitar fingering is 420101 (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It needs 4 fingers and no barre.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
Higher position
How to play Abdim7
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 4 (Ab).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 2 (Cb).
- Play the 4th string (D) open (Ebb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 1 (Ab).
- Play the 2nd string (B) open (Cb).
- Press the 1st string (high e) at fret 1 (Gbb).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 4 | Ab | R |
| 5th string (A) | 2 | Cb | b3 |
| 4th string (D) | 0 (open) | Ebb | b5 |
| 3rd string (G) | 1 | Ab | R |
| 2nd string (B) | 0 (open) | Cb | b3 |
| 1st string (high e) | 1 | Gbb | bb7 |
What is a Ab diminished 7th chord?
A diminished 7th chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is the same distance apart. It adds a doubly-flatted seventh to a diminished triad.
Notes and formula. Abdim7 contains Ab, Cb, Ebb, Gbb. Counted from the root Ab, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), b5 (diminished 5th), bb7 (diminished 7th). It is also written G#dim7; the two names sound identical and the name used depends on the key of the song.
Sound. Dramatic and unresolved, like a cliffhanger.
Where it is used. Used for dramatic passing chords in jazz, gospel, classical and ragtime.
Tips for playing Abdim7
The shape is perfectly symmetrical: the same fingering repeats every three frets, which makes it easy to slide up and down the neck.
Common mistake: Naming it after the wrong root. Any of its four notes can be the root, so the context decides the name.
Related chords
Abdim7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Abdim7 chord?
Abdim7 (Ab diminished 7th) contains the notes Ab, Cb, Ebb, Gbb. The formula is R–b3–b5–bb7 relative to the root Ab.
How do you play Abdim7 on guitar?
The most common shape for Abdim7 is 420101, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It needs 4 fingers and no barre.
Is Abdim7 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It needs 4 fingers and no barre.
Is Abdim7 the same as G#dim7?
Yes. Ab and G# are enharmonic: they are the same pitch with different names, so Abdim7 and G#dim7 sound identical on guitar. The name used depends on the key of the song.
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