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B diminished chord on guitar (Bdim)
Also called or written Bdim or B°
B diminished contains the notes B, D, and F. The 2nd fret shape is compact but requires muting both E strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionB–D–FBdim×-2-3-4-3-×
- First inversionD–F–BBdim/D×-5-3-4-3-×
- Second inversionF–B–DBdim/F1-2-0-×-×-×
How do you play a B diminished chord on guitar?
B diminished is played at the 2nd fret as × 2 3 4 3 ×: index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the D string at fret 3, pinky finger on the G string at fret 4 and ring finger on the B string at fret 3. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | B (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 4 | B (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 3 | D (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe 2nd fret shape demands a four-fret stretch and precise muting of both E strings, making it intermediate.
7th fret
B diminished is played at the 7th fret as 7 8 9 7 × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 7, ring finger on the A string at fret 8, pinky finger on the D string at fret 9 and middle finger on the G string at fret 7. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 7 | 1 | B (1) |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 4 | B (1) |
| 3 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Bdim/D inversion · fret 3
B diminished is played at the 3rd fret as × 5 3 4 3 ×: pinky finger on the A string at fret 5, index finger on the D string at fret 3, ring finger on the G string at fret 4 and middle finger on the B string at fret 3. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 1 | F (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 2 | D (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Bdim/D inversion · fret 8
B diminished is played at the 8th fret as 10 8 9 10 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 10, index finger on the A string at fret 8, middle finger on the D string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 10. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 1 | F (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 2 | B (1) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Bdim/D inversion · fret 10
B diminished is played at the 10th fret as × × 12 10 12 10: ring finger on the D string at fret 12, index finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the B string at fret 12 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 10. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | B (1) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 2 | D (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
B diminished is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, giving B, D, and F. The flattened fifth creates the chord's unstable quality. Compare it to B minor, which raises the fifth to F♯.
What goes wrong with B diminished?
- Letting the low E string ring out, adding an E that is not part of B diminished.
- Flattening the pinky on the G string, causing the 4th fret note to buzz.
- Strumming the high E string, which introduces an outside note.
When to use it
B diminished functions as the vii° chord in C major, leading to C major. It also works as a passing chord between B minor and C major. Use it in rock or jazz for a tense, unresolved color.
Changing to and from B diminished
- Slide the 2nd fret shape up one fret to the 3rd fret to get C diminished.
- Move to B minor by lifting the pinky from the G string's 4th fret and playing the 4th fret on the B string instead.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret shape is the most common and keeps the root B in the bass. The 7th fret shape repeats the voicing higher. The Bdim/D inversions place D in the bass, softening the root emphasis.
Other B chords
Common questions
What is the difference between B diminished and B minor?
B diminished has a flattened fifth (F), while B minor has a perfect fifth (F♯). The diminished fifth creates a more dissonant, unstable sound.
Can I play B diminished as a barre chord?
The 2nd fret shape uses no barre, but the 7th fret shape is movable. Slide the 7th fret shape down one fret to get B♭ diminished.
Why are both E strings muted in the 2nd fret shape?
The open E strings are not chord tones of B diminished. Muting them keeps the voicing clean and prevents an unwanted major second clash.
How is B diminished written?
B diminished is written as B° or Bdim. The root is B, and the symbols are B° and Bdim.