B♭dim guitar chord
How to play B♭dim on guitar — the notes B♭, D♭, F♭, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear B♭dim strummed. B♭dim is played as a barre chord around fret 1: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in B♭dim
A diminished chord is spelled from its root up: B♭ (R), D♭ (♭3), F♭ (♭5). Those are the only notes in B♭dim — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still B♭dim.
What a diminished chord is
In plain terms, a diminished triad stacks two minor thirds (root, ♭3, ♭5) — a chord made entirely of tension, with no stable fifth to rest on.
How it's used: It's the vii° of a major key, the note-below-home chord that badly wants to resolve up to the tonic. It rarely sits still.
The sound: Suspenseful, unresolved, uneasy — a chord on the edge of its seat. Where you'll hear it: Passing chords, classical cadences, tension in film and metal.
Keys that use B♭dim
B♭dim appears naturally in these keys — click any to see all seven of its chords and how B♭dim fits in:
Other B♭ chords
diminished chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open B♭dim in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See B♭dim on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in B♭dim?
B♭dim is made of 3 notes: B♭ (the R), D♭ (the ♭3), F♭ (the ♭5).
How do you play B♭dim on guitar?
B♭dim is played as a barre chord around fret 1: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
What key is B♭dim in?
B♭dim is a diatonic chord in 2 keys, including the vii° of B major. See all of them below.