Diminished Guitar Chords

There are a variety of diminished guitar chords. These include, diminished (dim), diminished 5th (-5), diminished 7th (о7 or dim 7), half diminished 7th (ø7 or m7b5), 7th diminished 5th (7 -5) and 9th diminished 5th (9 -5)

In this session, we will be looking at the diminished triads (3-note chords). Many guitarists play a diminished 7th chord (4-note chord) instead of a diminished chord. The choice is yours, but they are handy to know...

A diminished chord is a diminished triad consisting of 2 minor 3rds above the root or tonic, therefore having a root, a minor third, and a diminished 5th. The diminished chord is a dissonant or unstable chord and generally needs resolution. However, if it is used cleverly, it can create a great deal of interest and colour to a piece.

Formula for a Diminished Chord

A diminished chord (dim) is a chord having a root, a minor 3rd, and a diminished fifth
The chord formula for a diminished (dim) chord is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5
The symbol for a diminished chord is dim, º , or m(♭5)

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Example: Calculating C diminished... Cdim, Cº or Cm(♭5)

Diminished Chords consist of the 1st, ♭3rd, and ♭5th notes of a Major Scale
Remember that a minor third is equal to 3 half steps or 3 semitones. If we move a minor third upwards from C, we get E♭ ...(C - C# - D - E♭). If we move another minor 3rd upwards from E♭, we get G♭...E♭- E - F - G♭)
'C' chords, are based on the scale of C major which consists of no sharps or flats.
The C scale reads as follows: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Chord formula for a diminished chord = 1 - ♭3 - ♭5
Substitute the notes of the scale into the formula: 1=C, ♭3=♭E, ♭5=♭G
C dim reads as follows: C -♭ E - ♭G

Diminished Chord Table (dim)

dim	A	A#	B♭	B	C	C#	D♭	D	D#	E♭	E	F	F#	G♭	G	G#	A♭
Root	A	A#	B♭	B	C	C#	D♭	D	D#	E♭	E	F	F#	G♭	G	G#	A♭
♭3rd	C	C#	D♭	D	E♭	E	F♭(E)	F	F#	G♭	G	A♭	A	B♭♭(A)	B♭	B	C♭(B)
♭5th	E♭	E	F♭(E)	F	G♭	G	A♭♭(G)	A♭	A	B♭♭(A)	B♭	C♭(B)	C	D♭♭(C)	D♭	D	E♭♭(D)

Diminished Guitar Chords:

Adim - Cdim

Free Download:

Diminished Guitar Chords - Part 1

Diminished Guitar Chords:

C#dim / Dbdim - Edim

Free Download:

Diminished chords - Part 2

Diminished Guitar Chords:

Fdim - G#dim/ Abdim

Free Download: Diminished Chords - Part 3

Take Note:

If you know the basic shape of a diminished chord and know where the root note is located on the guitar fretboard, you can play diminished chords all over the fretboard. This is very handy if you have a favourite shape you like to play. You can play 1 shape and play all 12 keys by just moving up or down the fretboard... very handy!