Piano chord
B Diminished Chord
Bdim is a diminished chord built on B. It contains the notes B – D – F.
Bdim
Also written: B°, Bm♭5
- B
- D
- F
Notes in Bdim
Count up from B using the intervals below. The formula shows each note relative to the B major scale.
| Notes | Intervals | Formula | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | Root | 1 | 0 |
| D | Minor 3rd | ♭3 | 3 |
| F | Diminished 5th | ♭5 | 6 |
How to play Bdim on piano
- Right hand: fingers 1–3–5 (thumb on B).
- Left hand: fingers 5–3–1 (little finger on the lowest note).
- Press the keys together, then try playing them one at a time as an arpeggio.
Bdim inversions
An inversion puts a different note of Bdim at the bottom. The notes stay the same, the colour and voice leading change.
Root position
BdimB – D – F
1st inversion
Bdim/DD – F – B
2nd inversion
Bdim/FF – B – D
About diminished chords
Stack two minor 3rds and you get pure tension. Diminished chords are the sound of suspense, dread, and impending drama.
Sound: Dark & suspenseful
Songs that use it
- Chim Chim Cher-ee · Mary PoppinsMusical
- Super Mario Bros. Theme · Koji KondoGame Music
- Psycho Theme · Bernard HerrmannFilm Score
Keys that contain Bdim
Bdim is built only from notes of these keys. The Roman numeral shows its role in each key.
Hear Bdim with different sounds and compare it with other chords in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
If chords sound sour even when you play the right notes, the piano is probably out of tune. Our technicians tune pianos across Israel.