E♭ Diminished 7th
Also Known As
Hear the E♭ Diminished 7th chord played for you.
E♭°7
E♭ – G♭ – A – C
Formula:R-m3-d5-d7
Intervals:P1-m3-d5-d7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5-bb7
Introduction
The E♭ Diminished 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of E♭, G♭, A, and C. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and diminished seventh.
The Eb Diminished 7th piano chord (Ebdim7) consists of the notes Eb, Gb, A, C. It is built by stacking three minor thirds, creating a fully symmetrical 4-note chord, giving it a extremely tense and dramatic character, fully symmetrical and harmonically versatile. Formula: R-m3-d5-d7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5-bb7.
Notes
E♭ Diminished 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | Eb – Gb – A – C |
| 1st Inversion | Gb – A – C – Eb |
| 2nd Inversion | A – C – Eb – Gb |
| 3rd Inversion | Eb – Gb – A – C |
Key Signature
The key of Eb Diminished 7th has 3 flats.
B♭E♭A♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of Eb Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the Eb major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — E♭ Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5-d7
Intervals: P1-m3-d5-d7
The E♭ Diminished 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5-d7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5-d7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
E♭ Diminished 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the Eb Diminished 7th chord?
The Eb Diminished 7th chord (Ebdim7) contains four notes: Eb (root), Gb (minor third), Bbb (diminished fifth, enharmonically A), and Dbb (diminished seventh, enharmonically C). All four notes are spaced exactly 3 semitones apart.
How does Eb Diminished 7th differ from Eb Diminished?
Eb Diminished is a three-note triad (Eb, Gb, Bbb). Eb Diminished 7th adds Dbb/C as the diminished seventh. This completes the symmetrical structure and adds harmonic tension.
Why is the Diminished 7th chord symmetrical?
Every note in Ebdim7 is exactly 3 semitones from the next. Ebdim7 contains the same pitches as Cdim7, Gbdim7, and Adim7 — they are all inversions of the same four notes.
How is Eb Diminished 7th used in music?
Ebdim7 functions as a passing chord or leading-tone chord. As the vii°7 of E, it resolves up by half step to E Major or E minor. It creates smooth chromatic connections between diatonic chords.
What songs use Diminished 7th chords?
Diminished 7th chords appear in Michelle (Beatles), throughout Chopin and Beethoven for dramatic tension, and in jazz standards for chromatic passing. The suspenseful quality made dim7 a staple of film scoring.
How many unique Diminished 7th chords exist?
Only three. Ebdim7 shares its notes with Cdim7, Gbdim7, and Adim7 — all inversions of the same chord. The other two unique dim7 groups are Dbdim7 and Ddim7.
Practice Tips
- Play Ebdim7 and then Cdim7 — notice they contain the exact same notes in different order.
- Use Ebdim7 as a leading-tone chord: Ebdim7 → E Major for a dramatic half-step resolution.
- Practice as a chromatic passing chord: Eb Major → Ebdim7 → a chord a half step above.
- The symmetry means learning Ebdim7 also gives you Cdim7, Gbdim7, and Adim7 for free.
- Try arpeggiating Ebdim7 up and down the keyboard in different octaves — the repeating pattern every 3 semitones is mesmerizing.
- Diminished 7th chords are equally tense in every inversion — unlike other chord types, no inversion sounds more stable than another.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.