Root position Bdim
B – D – F
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
B Diminished Chord on Piano
Bdim B D F Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the B Diminished chord?
The B Diminished chord has 3 notes: B, D, F. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from B) gives it its tension.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| B | Root | 0 |
| D | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| F | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play B Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Bdim/D
D – F – B
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion Bdim/F
F – B – D
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with B Diminished
Every key where Bdim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the B Diminished chord?
The B Diminished chord (Bdim) is made of B, D, F. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play Bdim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on B and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Bdim?
root position Bdim (B D F); 1st inversion Bdim/D (D F B); 2nd inversion Bdim/F (F B D).
Play it for real
Hold Bdim and build a progression on it
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