Bdim7 chord on guitar

Bdim7 is B, D, F and A♭. The easiest shape is x-2-0-1-0-1. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-2-0-1-0-1 · open · easy

Notes: B · D · F · A♭
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
First shape: x-2-0-1-0-1

How to play Bdim7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-2-0-1-0-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Put your index finger on the G string at the 1st fret, which is A♭.
Put your middle finger on the high E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
Put your ring finger on the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B.
The open D and B strings add D and B; don't touch them.
Skip the low E string and begin the strum from the A string.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.

Other ways to play Bdim7

7-x-6-7-6-x: movable shape at the 6th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any diminished seventh chord.
x-2-3-1-3-x: movable shape, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-9-10-9-10: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Bdim7 chord changes

Songs rarely hold Bdim7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

C (leads up a half step): Bdim7 (x-2-0-1-0-1) to C (x-3-2-0-1-0): the index finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. C on guitar
Cm (leads up a half step): Bdim7 (x-2-0-1-0-1) to Cm (x-3-1-0-1-3): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the B string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Cm on guitar
E (a fifth down): Bdim7 (x-2-0-1-0-1) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): your index finger stays put, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. B and A♭ carry over from one chord to the other. E on guitar

Bdim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. Bdim7 can stand in for a dominant seventh a half step below, which is why it links chords so smoothly. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting Bdim7 under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: B, D, A♭, B, F. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate x-2-0-1-0-1 and 7-x-6-7-6-x, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where Bdim7 shows up

Bdim7 on piano and ukulele

Bdim7 on piano and ukulele uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on guitar

Other diminished seventh chords

Bdim7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Bdim7 on guitar?

B, D, F and A♭. In the x-2-0-1-0-1 shape the strings play B (A string), D (D string, open), A♭ (G string), B (B string, open) and F (high E string), so B is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Bdim7 on guitar?

x-2-0-1-0-1, shape 1 above. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is Bdim7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-2-0-1-0-1 needs no barre.

Which string does Bdim7 start on?

In the x-2-0-1-0-1 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 2nd fret, which is B, the root. Skip the low E string.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Bdim7. Updated September 2026.