Diminished Guitar Chords
dim or ºThere are a variety of diminished guitar chords. These include, diminished (dim or º), diminished 7th (dim 7 or о7), half diminished 7th (ø7 or m7b5), 7th diminished 5th (7 -5 or 7b5), 9th diminished 5th (9 -5 or 9b5)...
In this session, we will be looking at the 3-note diminished chord or triad. Many guitarists prefer to play a diminished 7th chord (4-note chord) instead of a diminished chord... the choice is yours, but they are handy to know.
The diminished chord is a dissonant or unstable chord and generally needs resolution, however, if used cleverly the tension can sound awesome.
- A diminished (dim or º) chord is a 3‑note triad built by stacking two minor thirds above the root.
- Intervals: Root - minor 3rd - diminished 5th
- Chord formula: 1 - ♭3 - ♭5
- Symbol for a diminished chord: dim, º, or m♭5
- Let's use the following example to calculate the notes of a Cdim chord.
| Chord Name (+ other less-common names) | Cdim (Cº, Cm♭5) |
| C Major Scale (Parent Scale of Cdim) | C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C |
| Chord Formula for dim chords | 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 |
| Chord Notes (after applying the formula to the Scale) | C - ♭E - ♭G |
| Chord notes on the Treble Clef |
|
Featured Practice Song: The Sound Of Music — Broadway Musical
| dim chord | A | B♭ | B | C | C# | D | E♭ | E | F | F# | G | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Root | A | B♭ | B | C | C# | D | E♭ | E | F | F# | G | A♭ |
| Minor 3rd | C | D♭ | D | E♭ | E | F | G♭ | G | A♭ | A | B♭ | C♭(B) |
| Diminished 5th | E♭ | F♭(E) | F | G♭ | G | A♭ | B♭♭(A) | B♭ | C♭(B) | C | D♭ | E♭♭(D) |
Diminished Guitar Chords - RH / LH
↓ Diminished chords - Part 2
Left Handers
↓ Diminished Guitar Chords for Lefties - Part 2
↓ Diminished Chords - Part 3
Left Handers
↓ Diminished Guitar Chords for Lefties - Part 3
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 favorite 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!
