Dim chords

“Dim” stands for diminished and what happens in these chords is that the third and fifth are flattened. There are three categories: diminished triads, diminished sevenths and half-diminished sevenths. In the diminished seventh (dim7), a diminished seventh interval is added to the dim triad. Dim chords are often used for transitions between two harmonically stronger chords.

See diagrams of dim chords:

C dim D dim E dim F dim G dim A dim B dim

C dim7 D dim7 E dim7 F dim7 G dim7 A dim7 B dim7

C half-dim7 D half-dim7 E half-dim7 F half-dim7 G half-dim7 A half-dim7 B half-dim7

Theory

The diminished chords are characterized by the flatted fifth, which creates a non-diatonic sound. This is true for the diminished triad, the diminished seventh as well as the half-diminished seventh. The half-diminished seventh chord is identical to the diminished seventh except for the seventh note that is a flat instead for a double flat (it could also be seen as a minor seventh with a lowered fifth). The half-diminished is more commonly written as m7b5 or m7(b5).

Comparing the Major Chord with the different diminished chords:

C: C – E – G
Cdim: C – Eb – Gb
Cdim7: C – Eb – Gb – A (Bbb)
C half-diminished 7: C – Eb – Gb – Bb

The B double flat (Bbb) in Cdim7 is enharmonically equivalent to A.

Formula and steps

The formula for the dim triad chord is 1 - b3 - b5. There are three half steps to the second note and three half steps to the third note in the chord. To build a dim7 and an m7b5, a b7 (minor seventh interval) and bb7 (diminished seventh interval) are added, respectively.

Alternative chord symbols

Besides the dim chord symbol that is presented above, you may also find the alternative degree symbol (°), as in C°, being used occasionally. Half-diminished seventh chord could also be written with a symbol (ø), as in Cø.

Make use of

And the most important part: how and when to use diminished chords? One of the most common ways is to use them as passing chords. Passing chord can be seen as “in-between chords”, in other words: chords to land on for a short while to create some tension between chords with stronger relationship with the key.

Chord sequences that incorporate dim chords:

1. C Ebdim G7
2. G Bbdim D7
(The intervals are the same: I biii° V7.)

Examples including dim7:

1. Cmaj7 Dbdim7 Dm7
2. Emaj7 Fdim7 F#m7
(The intervals are the same: Imaj7 bii°7 ii7.)

Examples including half-diminished:

1. Am7 Bm7b5 E7
2. Em7 F#m7b5 B7
(The intervals are the same: i7 iiø7 V7.)

Chord categories