Diminished Chords
What is a diminished chord?
A diminished chord is a triad that consists of three notes: the root, the minor third, and the diminished fifth. It is different from a major or augmented chord due to its unique intervallic structure.
Diminished Chord Formula: 1-b3-b5
The formula 1-b3-b5 represents the intervallic structure of a diminished chord:
- 1: The root note of the chord.
- b3: The minor third, which is three semitones above the root.
- b5: The diminished fifth, which is six semitones above the root.
For example, in a C diminished chord:
- Root note (1): C
- Minor third (b3): Eb
- Diminished fifth (b5): Gb
The combination of these three notes (C, Eb, Gb) creates the sound of a C diminished chord.
Characteristics of Diminished Chords
Diminished chords have a dissonant and unstable quality due to the diminished 5th interval. They are often used for creating tension and instability in music. Diminished chords are less common than major and minor chords but play a significant role in harmonic progressions.
Playing Diminished Chords
On a piano or keyboard, diminished chords are typically played by pressing the root note, the minor third, and the diminished fifth.
In guitar playing, diminished chords are formed by pressing down specific combinations of strings and frets, following chord diagrams or finger positions.
