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Diminished Chords

Diminished chords create a tense, unstable sound that often requires resolution to another chord. They are built using the 1st, flat 3rd, and flat 5th degrees of the major scale.

Structure​

A diminished chord consists of:

  • Root - The fundamental note that gives the chord its name
  • Minor Third - 3 semitones above the root
  • Diminished Fifth - 6 semitones above the root

Examples:​

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  • C dim: C - Eb - Gb
  • D dim: D - F - Ab
  • E dim: E - G - Bb
  • F dim: F - Ab - B (Cb)

As a Transition​

Diminished chords are often used to connect two Diatonic chords via chromatic voice leading. Here it is used to transition from C major to D minor.

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Sound Characteristics​

  • Mood: Tense, unstable, mysterious
  • Symbol: C°, Cdim

Diminished chords are often used as passing chords or to create tension that resolves to a more stable chord. They're usually used with the 7th extension as dim7, but we'll get into that later.