Diminished chords

This is a lesson on how diminished chords are constructed and how you can use them in your playing.

Diminished chords are a nice way to add a classical sound to your playing. They serve a similar function to dominant chords in that they are unstable and need to resolve. These diminished chords are commonly heard in Jazz and classical music. Diminished chords are really useful as a passing chord.

A diminished triad contains the notes 1, b3, b5

In the Key of C this would be C, Eb, Gb

One really useful thing about diminished chord voicings is that they repeat in intervals of a minor third. If we look at the example below you can move this voicing up three frets and it still has the same function. Try moving these chords up the neck in intervals of a minor third.

A diminished seventh chord contains the notes 1, b3, b5, bb7

In the Key of C this would be C, Eb, Gb, A