Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is C–E♭–F♯–A?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
Every tone of Cdim7 is present, with C in the bass — the definitive reading.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | sounding |
| ♭3 | E♭ | sounding |
| ♭5 | G♭ | sounding |
| ♭♭7 | B♭♭ | sounding |
All tones of E♭dim7 are present; the D♭♭ note is lowest (3rd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E♭ | sounding |
| ♭3 | G♭ | sounding |
| ♭5 | B♭♭ | sounding |
| ♭♭7 | D♭♭ | sounding |
All tones of F♯dim7 are present; the C note is lowest (2nd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | sounding |
| ♭3 | A | sounding |
| ♭5 | C | sounding |
| ♭♭7 | E♭ | sounding |
All tones of Adim7 are present; the C note is lowest (1st inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A | sounding |
| ♭3 | C | sounding |
| ♭5 | E♭ | sounding |
| ♭♭7 | G♭ | sounding |
3rd, 5th, ♭7, and ♭9 of D7♭9 sound; it reads as D7♭9 with the D (1) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | omitted |
| 3 | F♯ | sounding |
| 5 | A | sounding |
| ♭7 | C | sounding |
| ♭9 | E♭ | sounding |
3rd, 5th, ♭7, and ♭9 of F7♭9 sound; it reads as F7♭9 with the F (1) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | omitted |
| 3 | A | sounding |
| 5 | C | sounding |
| ♭7 | E♭ | sounding |
| ♭9 | G♭ | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not Am7♭5: a half diminished A chord needs G as its ♭7 — G is absent.
Not Cm7♭5: a half diminished C chord needs B♭ as its ♭7 — B♭ is absent.
Not E♭m7♭5: a half diminished E♭ chord needs D♭ as its ♭7 — D♭ is absent.
Not F♯m7♭5: a half diminished F♯ chord needs E as its ♭7 — E is absent.
Not Adim(maj7): a diminished major 7th A chord needs G♯ as its 7th — G♯ is absent.
How these notes relate
C, E♭, F♯, and A is a voicing of D7♭9 with the D (root) left out.
The same notes over E♭ in the bass spell E♭dim7.
Add G (its ♭7) and the set reads as Am7♭5.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {0, 3, 6, 9}
- Normal order
- [0,3,6,9]
- Prime form
- [0,3,6,9]
- Interval vector
- <004002>
- Forte set class
- 4-28
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