B♭ diminished (B♭dim) chord on piano
Diminished triad (two minor thirds) on B♭: the notes of the B♭dim chord are B♭ – D♭ – F♭. The same chord with a different spelling: A♯ diminished (A♯dim).
Root position: B♭3 – D♭4 – F♭4
What the B♭dim chord sounds like
A diminished triad is two stacked minor thirds with a diminished fifth. It sounds tense and unsettled; in a major key it sits on degree vii and leads into the tonic.
Notes of the B♭dim chord
| Degree | Note | Interval from the root |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root |
| 3 | D♭ | minor third (3 semitones) |
| 5 | F♭ | diminished fifth (6 semitones) |
Root position and inversions
An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.
Root position
B♭3 – D♭4 – F♭4
1st inversion
D♭4 – F♭4 – B♭4
2nd inversion
F♭4 – B♭4 – D♭5
Similar chords and substitutes
If B♭dim is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.
Substitutes (by function)
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the B♭dim chord?
B♭, D♭, F♭. The root is B♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth.
How do I play the B♭dim chord on piano?
In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.
Why do some songbooks write H instead of B?
In German and Central European notation, H is the note B, and B is the note B♭. So a “B” chord in a German or Hungarian songbook is B♭ in English notation, and an “H” chord is B. Always check which notation your chord chart uses.
Related chords
The same chord on another instrument:
B♭dim on guitarB♭dim on ukuleleB♭dim on mandolinB♭dim on banjo
Other B♭ chords on piano:
B♭B♭mB♭7B♭maj7B♭m7B♭sus2B♭sus4B♭7sus4B♭6B♭m6B♭add9B♭augB♭dim7B♭m7b5B♭9B♭m9B♭maj9B♭11B♭13
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