Diminished Seventh Arpeggios (Dim7) | Guitar Lesson with Shapes, Fingerings and Licks

Diminished 7 Arpeggio Construction

A Diminished 7 arpeggio is built with seven notes, it can be considered a diminished triad with a diminished seventh.

The interval formula is : tonic (1), minor third (b3), diminished fifth (b5), diminished seventh (bb7).

Diminished 7 arpeggios are basically used to play over diminished 7 chords and dominant b9 chords as explained below.

Cdim7 arpeggio	C	Eb	Gb	A
Formula	1	b3	b5	bb7

One Octave Shapes

Here are four guitar diagrams that will help you to play diminished 7 arpeggios on guitar. The first shape has tonic (1) on the sixth and fourth string.

The second graphic has tonic on the fifth and third string.

The tonic of the third diagrams is on the fourth and second string, whereas the fourth shape has tonic on the third and first string.

It is advisable to play these shapes starting from the tonic notes, ascending and descending.

Once you are comfortable with the fingerings, try to start from the other tones (b3, b5 and bb7).

Symmetry of Diminished 7 Arpeggios

A diminished 7th arpeggio is built with minor third intervals, it is symmetrical.

A minor third interval is made up of 3 semitones (3 frets on a guitar).

It means that you can move any diminished 7th arpeggio positions up or down three frets and you will still find the same notes.

You can play four diminished 7th arpeggios over a G7b9 chord :

Ab diminished 7th arpeggio (from the b9 of G7b9).
B diminished 7th arpeggio (from the 3rd).
D diminished 7th arpeggio (from the 5th).
F diminished 7th arpeggio (from the b7).

How to Use Dim7 Arpeggios?

The basic application of diminished 7th arpeggios is to play them over diminished 7th chords because they have the same notes.

For example, playing a G°7 arpeggio over a G°7 chord. However, dim7 chords are rarely used.

One of the most common application of dim7 arpeggios is to play them over dominant b9 chords. Indeed, the notes of a diminished 7th arpeggio are identical to the notes of a dominant b9 chord a semitone lower.

Example :

G7b9 chord is built with : G (root) - B (third) - D (fifth) - F (minor seventh) - Ab (flat ninth).

7b9 Formula	R	3	5	b7	b9
G7b9	G	B	D	F	Ab

Ab diminished 7th arpeggio is made up of : Ab (Root) - B (minor third) - D (diminished fifth) - F (diminished seventh).

Dim7 Formula	R	b3	b5	bb7
Ab dim7	Ab	B	D	F

Minor II-V-I Lick

Here is a minor II-V-I sequence using a B diminished 7th arpeggio.

This is a common chord progression very used in jazz music.

In this line the B diminished arpeggio starts on the third of G7b9.

Bar one : D descending Locrian mode (D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C) with a passing tone (A).
Bar two : B diminished 7th arpeggio (B-D-F-Ab) and chromatic line (F-F#-G)
Bar three : Fifth and b3 of Cm.

6 Tritone Substitution Jazz Guitar Licks - Free PDF Method

This Printable PDF eBook available for free download contains 6 easy jazz guitar licks with tabs/notation, youtube video link and analysis about the tritone substitution.

25 Diminished Jazz Guitar Patterns | eBook PDF with Audio Files

This eBook PDF with audio files contains 25 dominant diminished jazz guitar patterns using the half-whole diminished scale and diminished 7th arpeggios.

25 Soul Jazz Licks For Guitar | Printable PDF Method With Tabs, Analysis And Audio files

You will find here an eBook available in PDF containing 25 soul jazz and hard bop guitar licks in the style of Grant Green, Melvin Sparks, George Benson.

40 Blues Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable method is available as a PDF file containing 40 easy dominant jazz-blues guitar lines with tabs, standard notation, analysis, audio files and scale charts.

25 Altered Jazz Guitar Licks - eBook PDF Method With Audio Files

This PDF eBook method contains 25 altered jazz guitar licks with tabs, patterns, scale charts and audio files to master, apply and develop the altered scale.

11 Jazz Blues Chord Studies For Guitar | PDF Method With Audio Files

11 jazz blues chord studies with tabs, standard notation, analysis, and audio recordings and PDF.

Major 2-5-1 Chord Voicings - 50 Exercises For Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method With Audio

This printable PDF guitar method provides 50 exercises with audio files, analysis, tab and staves for learning major 2-5-1 chord voicings.

25 Pentatonic Lines for Jazz Guitar - PDF eBook Method with Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method is an eBook available as a PDF with standard notation, guitar tabs, diagrams, analysis, audio files and backing tracks. You will find in this booklet 25 easy jazz guitar lines with theory using common and rare pentatonic scales.

49 Essential Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs, Standard Notation & Audio Files

This printable eBook method in PDF format provides 49 jazz solo transcriptions of the greatest jazz musicians. Tab, standard notation, audio files & analysis.

40 Major Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs And Audio Files

Printable PDF eBook method containing 40 major jazz guitar licks with tab, standard notation and audio files for beginners and intermediates.

101 Dominant Arpeggio Exercises For Guitar Players - Tab & Standard Notation - Printable PDF eBook Method

This printable PDF method provides 101 dominant arpeggio exercises with tab, theory and standard notation for the jazz, blues and rock guitarist.

40 Minor (Dorian) Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method With Audio Files

This printable guitar method in PDF format contains 40 easy minor jazz guitar lines based on the Dorian mode.

40 II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - Printable PDF eBook Method With Audio Files

This pdf method for guitar contains fourteen 2 5 1 jazz guitar lines with tab, standard notation, analysis, scale charts and audio files.

Mixolydian Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF Method - 40 Exercises With Audio

PDF guitar method with tabs, audio files and theory providing 40 dominant jazz guitar lines for teachers and students.

120 Easy Jazz Licks For Guitar - BUNDLE - PDF Methods With Audio

This package contains 120 jazz guitar lines based on diatonic modes as Mixolydian, Dorian and Ionian. PDF format with tabs, audio files and analysis.

Guitar Walking Bass Lines & Chords - PDF Method - 35 Exercises With Tabs and Audio Files

This jazz guitar method about walking bass lines and chords is available as a PDF files containing 35 exercises with tabs, analysis and audio files

40 Minor II V I Jazz Guitar Licks - PDF eBook Method With Tabs & Audio

This guitar method is a printable PDF with tabs, diagrams, theory and audio files providing 40 minor 2 5 1 jazz patterns.

Minor 2 5 1 Chord Voicings For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method - 40 Exercises Audio Files

This PDF method contains 40 exercices with tabs, scores and audio files for practicing jazz guitar chords over the minor 2 5 1 progression.

30 Smooth Jazz Guitar Licks | PDF Method - Tabs, Standard Notation, Analysis, Audio Files

In this package you'll get a printable PDF Method with tabs, notation, analysis, scale shapes and audio files for practicing 30 smooth jazz guitar licks.

Triads For Guitar - 126 Shapes - Printable PDF Method

This handbook for guitar players is intended both for teachers and students. It includes 126 guitar shapes for mastering triads.

Arpeggios For Guitar - 172 Shapes With Formulas - Printable PDF Method

This printable PDF is a method dedicated to guitarists of all styles who want to learn build and play the most important types of arpeggios.

Guitar Chord Dictionary - Printable PDF Method With Diagrams and Theory

This PDF eBook provides over 550 guitar chord shapes. This is the perfect reference guide to understand how chords are built and how to play them on the guitar neck.

2 5 1 Licks and Chords - 170 Jazz Guitar Exercises - PDF and Audio

This bundle contains 4 PDF methods for a total of 170 exercises with tabs, staves, analysis & audio files for practicing scales, arpeggios licks & chords over the 2-5-1 progression.

Guitar Scale Dictionary - PDF Method With Formula Charts, Intervals and Diagrams

This E-book is a printable PDF method including over 700 scale diagrams and formula charts for guitarists.

30 Minor Arpeggio Licks For Jazz Guitar - PDF Method With Audio Files

This package includes a printable PDF method containing 30 exercises with tabs, staves and audio files for practicing minor arpeggios on guitar.

Essential Guitar Scale Shapes – Complete Fretboard Reference Poster

Guitar scale poster with 17 fretboard diagrams covering modes, pentatonics, blues, minor & symmetric scales. Ideal for teachers, students & players.

Guitar Chord Poster - Reference Chart And Wall Art

This printed color posters contains 63 guitar chord diagrams for jazz players, students, teachers and schools.

Guitar Poster - Modes of The Major Scale

Guitar reference posters and wall art about modes of the major scale for guitar teachers, students and music schools.

Arpeggio Shapes For Guitar - Posters and Wall Art

This giant guitar poster for any guitar player, student or instructor contains colorful arpeggio diagrams. Giant size 24 x 36 inches (60 x 90 cm).

Guitar Triads Poster - Reference Chart - Shapes & Formulas (Handwritten Style) - 24"x 36" (60 x 90 cm)

This reference poster show the positions and intervals of the main triads used on guitar. This is a useful tool for guitarists, teacher and students.

Decorative Guitar Poster - Four Archtop Guitars - Wall Art - Landscape Format

This is a decorative poster with four archtop jazz guitars. Several size and colors in landscape format available on Teespring and redbubble.

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Poster With Scale, Arpeggio And Chord Charts

Educative and decorative giant guitar poster with neck diagrams, interval names about the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Pentatonic Scales - Guitar Poster - Educative Reference Chart

This guitar reference poster shows the positions and intervals of the major pentatonic scale.

Guitar Poster With Notes On Fretboard And Staff

This is a giant poster showing the notes on the guitar fret board and their positions on a musical staff.

Intervals On Guitar - Poster With Neck Diagrams

This giant poster for guitar provides neck diagrams with interval positions.

Diatonic Major Scale Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This poster is created for music teachers and students, illustrating the structure of the seven modes of the major scale.

Melodic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster available in several sizes shows the construction of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Harmonic Minor Modes - Guitar Theory Poster

This music theory poster, offered in various sizes, demonstrates the structure of the seven modes of the melodic minor scale.

Major Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

This handy poster provides a clear visual guide to the chords built from the major scale, helping you recognize patterns and improve your playing.

Harmonic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Discover the chords of the harmonic minor scale with this guitar poster.

Melodic Minor Scale Chords - Guitar Poster

Explore the rich harmonic possibilities of the melodic minor scale with this essential guitar poster.

Major 7 Arpeggios - Free Printable Cheat Sheets

Free major 7 arpeggio cheat sheets for guitar students and teachers. Three files are available for download, PDF, JPEG and PNG.

Minor 7 Arpeggios - Printable Cheat Sheets - PDF / JPEG / PNG

This page contains three music cheat sheets for guitar teachers and students about minor seventh arpeggios

Dominant 7 Arpeggio Cheats Sheets For Guitar

This page contains a link to three cheat sheets about dominant 7 arpeggios. Guitar neck diagrams, theory and chart.

Half-diminished Arpeggios - Guitar Cheat Sheets

Three printable cheat sheets for guitar about m7b5 arpeggios for teachers and students.

Diminished 7 arpeggios - Guitar Cheat Sheets

Three music cheat sheets in PDF , JPEG and PNG formats for guitar teachers and students.

Minor Major 7 Arpeggio Cheat Sheets - PDF, JPEG and PNG

Three files (PDF, JPEG, PNG) including minor major 7 arpeggios shapes and theory for guitar teachers and students.

Modes of The Major Scale - Guitar Charts - Printable PDF

This printable PDF provides 7 diagrams to play medieval church modes on guitar.

Modes of the Melodic Minor Scale - PDF With Guitar Diagrams

You'll find a printable PDF in high resolution including guitar charts of the seven modes from the melodic minor scale.

Harmonic Minor Scale Modes For Guitar - PDF With Scale Charts

You'll find here a printable PDF file containg guitar charts and diagrams of the seven modes of the harmonic minor scale.

Major Scale Modes For Guitar - Shapes, Charts and Theory - Handwritten Cheat Sheets For Teachers and Students

This is a printable PDF for guitar teachers and students containing seven cheat sheets about the modes of the major scale.

Augmented Major 7 Arpeggio - Guitar Cheat Sheet - PDF, JPEG, PNG

You'll find guitar cheat sheets with shapes, theory and formula chart about augmented major 7 arpeggios.

Augmented 7 Arpeggio - Guitar Cheat Sheets

This page provides three augmented 7 arpeggio cheat sheets for guitar players.

Music Modes - Printable PDF Cheat Sheets

Unlock the secrets of diatonic modes with our expertly crafted printable PDF cheat sheets, designed specifically for musicians, composers, and music students.

Last edited: 2025-01-19