Piano chords · Diminished chord
Bdim piano chord (B diminished)
Bdim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
B – D – F · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Bdim
Bdim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- B, the root
- D, the minor third
- F, the diminished fifth
Every note is a white key, which makes Bdim an easy chord to find and play.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F.
- Left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 1 on F.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | B – D – F |
| 1st inversion | D – F – B |
| 2nd inversion | F – B – D |
Where Bdim belongs
Bdim is the vii° chord in C major, the chord that leads up a half step to C.
Bdim is Bm with the fifth lowered a half step (F♯ becomes F). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
C – F – Bdim – C: I – IV – vii° – I in C major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Bdim chord?
Bdim (B diminished) is made of B, D and F: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play Bdim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on B, 3 on D, 5 on F, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on B, 3 on D, 1 on F.
How is Bdim different from the plain chord?
Bdim is Bm with the fifth lowered a half step (F♯ becomes F). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.