Bdim Guitar Chord
B diminished is a three-note chord built from B, D, F — the root, minor third, and diminished fifth. Its tense, unstable sound creates a strong pull toward resolution. It appears naturally as the leading-tone chord in the key of C Major, resolving up by a half step to the tonic.
4 ways to play Bdim
Notes in the B Diminished Chord
The B Diminished chord is built from 3 notes: B, D, F. It is a diminished chord — built from a root, minor third (3 semitones), and diminished fifth (6 semitones) — the interval of a tritone. On guitar, these notes are voiced across multiple strings simultaneously to create the full chord sound. Depending on the voicing, some notes may be doubled in different octaves to fill out the sound.
Keys That Contain B Diminished
B Diminished appears as a diatonic chord in these major keys:
Common Chord Progressions with Bdim
B Diminished appears in many common progressions. Here are the most-used patterns when Bdim is the tonic chord:
Use our chords in a key tool to find all the chords that naturally pair with Bdim in any key.
Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the B Diminished chord?
The B Diminished chord is made up of B, D, F. These 3 notes form a triad (three-note chord structure).
What key is the B Diminished chord in?
B Diminished naturally appears in the keys of C Major. It can also appear in other contexts as a borrowed chord or secondary chord.
How do I play the Bdim chord on guitar?
Place your fingers on the guitar fretboard according to the diagram above. The numbered dots show finger placement (1 = index, 2 = middle, 3 = ring, 4 = pinky), "O" means play the string open, and "X" means mute that string.
Other B Chords
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