B Diminished Chord

Bdim Level 5: The Abyss

B Diminished (Bdim) is built from the notes B, D, F. Its intervals are Root — Minor 3rd — Diminished 5th. Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

Hear B Diminished Chord

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Notes and intervals

Interval Semitones Note
Root 0 B
Minor 3rd 3 D
Diminished 5th 6 F

What does b diminished chord sound like?

Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

B Diminished Chord in music

A strong leading-tone chord (vii° in C major). B diminished has a powerful pull toward C that makes it one of the most common diminished chords in tonal music.

How to recognise b diminished chord by ear

Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished.

Practice identifying this chord in ChordFrog's Level 5: The Abyss .

Practice tip

B diminished is vii° in C major — the most common key in music. Play C major → B diminished → C major to hear the strongest leading-tone resolution in tonal harmony. The B-F tritone within B diminished is the defining dissonance of the key of C.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in a B Diminished chord?
B Diminished (Bdim) contains three notes: B, D, F. The intervals are Root, Minor 3rd, Diminished 5th.
How do I recognise B Diminished by ear?
Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished. Practice identifying B Diminished in ChordFrog's Level 5 (The Abyss).
What level is B Diminished in ChordFrog?
B Diminished is introduced at Level 5: The Abyss. This is the final level, adding diminished and augmented triads for the complete chord vocabulary.

Other B chords

B Major Chord B Minor Chord B Augmented Chord B Sus2 Chord B Sus4 Chord

All Diminished Chords chords

C Diminished Chord D♭ Diminished Chord D Diminished Chord E♭ Diminished Chord E Diminished Chord F Diminished Chord F♯ Diminished Chord G Diminished Chord A♭ Diminished Chord A Diminished Chord B♭ Diminished Chord

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