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B diminished chord

B diminished Diminished & augmented family

Tense and uneasy, like a question.

Easiest shape1 of 2

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 5th, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

Broot
Dminor 3rd
Fflat 5th

The flat 5th is the most unstable interval there is. It cannot stay put.

Tension: Restless

Hear it in a progression

Leading home
Tension that resolves up one fret. In C major.
Capo and transpose
1. FIV
2. Bdimvii°
3. CI
4. CI

Where it goes next

Thinking in C major, where it is the vii° chord.

C
I. Its top note leads up one fret, straight home.
Em
iii. Settles onto iii.

Sounds close

Ddim7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have B, D and F.
G7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have B, D and F.
Dm
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have D and F.
G
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have B and D.

Keys it lives in