B diminished piano chord (Bdim)
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: root, minor third, diminished fifth. Tense and unstable, it is mostly used as a passing chord.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- B – D – F
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- D – F – B
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- F – B – D
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| B | root |
| D | minor third |
| F | diminished fifth |
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5 · B – D – F
A progression with this chord
The diminished chord works as a passing chord to the chord a semitone above.