B Diminished Piano Chord
Root
BMin 3rd
Db 5th
FE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
B
D
F
The Notes in a B Diminished Chord
The Root
You'll have no trouble finding the root of a B Diminished chord, because it's what gives a B Diminished chord it's name: It's the note B.
The Min 3rd
The minor third of a B Diminished chord is D. The minor third is up three half-steps from the Root.
Finding D from B step by step:
- Start on: B
- Step 1: move up to C
- Step 2: move up to C#
- Step 3: Land on D
Min 3rd
DRoot
B1
2
- C is a minor second above B.
- C# is a major 2nd above B.
- D is a minor third above B.
The b 5th
The flat fifth of a B Diminished chord is F. The flat fifth is down six half-steps from the Root -- but it's easier to just think of it as a variation on the fifth. Once you know your fifths, the flat fifth and sharp fifth are a lot easier to find.
Finding F from B step by step:
- Start on: B
- Step 1: move down to A#
- Step 2: move down to A
- Step 3: move down to G#
- Step 4: move down to G
- Step 5: move down to F#
- Step 6: Land on F
b 5th
FRoot
B1
2
3
4
5
- A# is a minor second below B.
- A is a major 2nd below B.
- G# is a minor third below B.
- G is a major third below B.
- F# is a fourth below B.
- F is a flat fifth below B.
The Inversions of B Diminished
Root Position
Root
BMin 3rd
Db 5th
FE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
B
D
F
1st Inversion
Min 3rd
Db 5th
FRoot
BE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
D
F
B
2nd Inversion
b 5th
FRoot
BMin 3rd
DE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
F
B
D