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B♭ diminished chord on guitar (B♭dim)
Also called or written B♭dim or B♭°
B♭ diminished is built from B♭, D♭, and F♭. The open shape includes the high open E string, adding a bright edge to the otherwise dark chord.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionB♭–D♭–F♭B♭dim×-1-2-3-2-0
- First inversionD♭–F♭–B♭B♭dim/D♭×-4-2-3-2-×
- Second inversionF♭–B♭–D♭B♭dim/F♭0-1-2-3-2-0
How do you play a B♭ diminished chord on guitar?
B♭ diminished is played in open position as × 1 2 3 2 0: index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 2, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2. The high e string rings open. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | open | — | F♭ (♭5) |
IntermediateThe open shape requires a four-fret stretch across the middle strings, making it intermediate despite the open high E.
6th fret
B♭ diminished is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 8 6 × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 6, ring finger on the A string at fret 7, pinky finger on the D string at fret 8 and middle finger on the G string at fret 6. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 3 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 2 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
13th fret
B♭ diminished is played at the 13th fret as × 13 14 15 14 ×: index finger on the A string at fret 13, middle finger on the D string at fret 14, pinky finger on the G string at fret 15 and ring finger on the B string at fret 14. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 13 | 1 | B♭ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 14 | 2 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 15 | 4 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 3 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
B♭dim/D♭ inversion · fret 2
B♭ diminished is played at the 2nd fret as × 4 2 3 2 ×: pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, index finger on the D string at fret 2, ring finger on the G string at fret 3 and middle finger on the B string at fret 2. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 1 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
B♭dim/D♭ inversion · fret 7
B♭ diminished is played at the 7th fret as 9 7 8 9 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 9, index finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 3 | D♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 2 | B♭ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | F♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
B♭ diminished uses the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, producing B♭, D♭, and F♭. The double-flatted fifth gives the chord its distinctive unstable sound. Contrast it with B♭ minor, which has a perfect fifth.
What goes wrong with B♭ diminished?
- Letting the low E string sound, which adds an E that is not part of B♭ diminished.
- Pressing the pinky on the G string too flat, causing the 3rd fret note to buzz.
- Muting the high E string accidentally with the palm, losing the intended open note.
When to use it
B♭ diminished acts 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 jazz or classical for a tense, dark color.
Changing to and from B♭ diminished
- Slide the 6th fret shape down one fret to the 5th fret to get A diminished.
- Move to B♭ minor by lifting the pinky from the G string's 3rd fret and playing the 2nd fret instead.
Which voicing to use
The open shape is the most accessible and keeps the root B♭ in the bass. The 6th fret and 13th fret shapes repeat the voicing higher. The B♭dim/C♯ inversions place D♭ in the bass, creating a more ambiguous sound.
Other B♭ chords
Common questions
How is B♭ diminished written?
B♭ diminished is written as B♭° or B♭dim. On a keyboard, use Bb for the root. It is also spelled A♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Why does the open shape include the high E string?
The high E string is open and is a chord tone of B♭ diminished. It adds a bright overtone to the otherwise dark harmony.
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, tense sound.