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B-flat Diminished 7th Chord
The B-flat Diminished 7th Chord is B-flat, D-flat, F-flat, and A-double-flat: on the keyboard, B-flat, D-flat, E, and G. Two black keys at the bottom, two white keys at the top, and the same even spacing through every inversion.
How to play the B-flat Diminished 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the B-flat Diminished 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the B♭ diminished 7th chord are stacked in thirds with B♭ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | B♭ D♭ F♭ A𝄫 |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭dim7 or B♭°7 |
The B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (D♭) becomes the bottom note, and the root (B♭) jumps up to the top.
| B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | D♭ F♭ A𝄫 B♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭°6/5 or B♭°7/D♭ |
The B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (F♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (D♭) goes to the top.
| B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F♭ A𝄫 B♭ D♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭°4/3 or B♭°7/F♭ |
The B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (A𝄫) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (F♭) goes to the top.
| B-flat Diminished 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A𝄫 B♭ D♭ F♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | B♭°4/2 or B♭°7/A𝄫 |
B-flat Diminished 7th Chord theory and function
The diminished 7th stacks three minor thirds, and every interval is the same size. That symmetry gives the chord a tense, suspended sound, and it is the most flexible chord for changing keys: the same four notes can lead to four different places.
The common keys that use this chord are sharp keys, so it is usually written as A♯ diminished 7th, and the spelling follows the key. The A♯ diminished 7th chord is the leading-tone chord (vii°7) in B major. In minor keys, it is the leading-tone chord (vii°7) in B minor.
It works like a dominant 7th chord with a flat ninth and the root missing: A♯°7 is the upper four notes of F♯7♭9, so it resolves to B the way F♯7 does. It is also a passing chord that slides between two chords: A – A♯°7 – Bm7, and the bass line simply climbs by half step. Try playing it once and resolve up a half step from each of its four notes in turn, and listen to how the same chord points to four different keys.
Other chords built on B-flat
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