B diminished chord on piano

Bdim · B° — a tense chord of two minor thirds that wants to move on.

Notes	B – D – F
Formula	1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Symbols	Bdim, B°
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play B diminished on the piano

Start on B. Add the third (D) and the fifth (F). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays B diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

B – D – F · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

D – F – B · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

F – B – D · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use B diminished

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

vii° in C major
ii° in A minor

Other B chords

B major B minor B augmented B sus2 B sus4 B6 B7 B major seventh B minor seventh B diminished seventh B half-diminished

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