F diminished seventh arpeggio on piano
The F diminished seventh arpeggio (F°7) has 4 notes: F, A♭, C♭, E♭♭ (F, A flat, C flat, and E double flat), degrees 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7 of the chord. It uses 1 black key: A♭.
- F 1
- A♭ A flat ♭3
- C♭ C flat ♭5
- E♭♭ E double flat ♭♭7
C♭ is the correct spelling in the chord formula; on the instrument it is the same note as B. E♭♭ is the correct spelling in the chord formula; on the instrument it is the same note as D.
The lit keys are the notes of the arpeggio, with the name and the degree; the root (F) has the strongest color. Tap a key to hear it; Listen plays up and down. The small dot marks middle C (C4).
Fingering
This page does not show a fingering. In piano methods the arpeggio fingering changes with the key (black keys move the thumb crossing) and with the hand, and no single rule covers every arpeggio here. Follow the one in your method book or from your teacher.
Formula
- F
- 3
- A♭
- 3
- C♭
- 3
- E♭♭
- 3
- F
Degrees: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7 (root, minor third, diminished fifth, diminished seventh). Distance between the notes: 3 – 3 – 3 – 3 semitones, counting the step back to the upper root.
About the diminished seventh chord
The diminished seventh splits the octave into four equal parts: the same shape repeats every 3 frets and the chord has four possible names. A sound of drama and suspense; the classic passing chord of choro, samba, tango and silent-film scores.
The chord and the scale
- F diminished seventh chord (F°7) The chord on the keyboard, with its inversions
- F diminished (whole-half) scale The scale to practice with it: it has every note of the arpeggio plus the ones in between.
Other F scales with every note of the arpeggio
More F arpeggios
- Major (F)
- Minor (Fm)
- Seventh (F7)
- Major seventh (F7M)
- Minor seventh (Fm7)
- Half-diminished (Fm7(♭5))
- Diminished seventh (F°7)
- Augmented (F+)
The diminished seventh arpeggio in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the F diminished seventh arpeggio?
The F diminished seventh arpeggio (F°7) has the notes F, A flat, C flat, and E double flat: degrees 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7 of the chord.
How do you play the F diminished seventh arpeggio on piano?
Start on F and go up through the keys F, A♭, C♭, E♭♭ to the F above; for two octaves, repeat the pattern one octave higher. It uses 1 black key: A♭.
Which scale goes with the F diminished seventh arpeggio?
The F diminished (whole-half) scale, which has every note of the arpeggio. These also have all of them: F dominant diminished (half-whole) scale.