Diminished Piano Chords
Diminished harmony stacks minor thirds for a tense, unstable sound. Dim and dim7 chords often act as passing or leading chords; m7♭5 (half-diminished) is essential in minor ii–V–i progressions.
Chord formulas in this category
| Type | Formula | Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Diminished | 1 – b3 – b5 | Open in Explorer |
| Diminished 7th | 1 – b3 – b5 – bb7 | Open in Explorer |
| Minor 7 flat 5 | 1 – b3 – b5 – b7 | Open in Explorer |
Formulas use the shared chord-theory registry (dim, dim7, m7b5). Notes on each chord page are generated from that same source of truth.
Example chords
Browse All Diminished Chords
Every diminished chord page in the library, organized by type.
Diminished
Diminished 7th
Practice and explore
Related categories
Frequently asked questions
- What is a half-diminished chord?
- Half-diminished (m7♭5 or ø7) is a diminished triad plus a minor seventh — for example B – D – F – A. It is the classic ii chord in minor keys.
- How is dim7 different from dim?
- dim is a triad (root, ♭3, ♭5). dim7 adds a diminished seventh (double-flat 7), stacking four notes a minor third apart.
Browse all qualities: Diminished, Diminished 7th, Minor 7 flat 5.