A♯ diminished 7th chord on piano
A♯dim7 is a diminished 7th chord built on A♯. It uses the notes A♯ - C♯ - E - G and sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic silent-movie villain chord. It is also written as B♭ diminished 7th.
- Notes
- A♯ C♯ E G
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- A♯dim7
How to play A♯dim7 step by step
- Find A♯. A♯ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called B♭.
- Add C♯, 3 half steps above A♯.
- Add E, 6 half steps above A♯.
- Add G, 9 half steps above A♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
A♯dim7 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♯ diminished 7th chord?
The A♯ diminished 7th chord (A♯dim7) contains 4 notes: A♯, C♯, E, G. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7.
How do you play A♯dim7 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on A♯ and play A♯, C♯, E, G together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is A♯ diminished 7th the same as B♭ diminished 7th?
Yes. A♯ diminished 7th and B♭ diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.