Diminished chord
Encyclopedia
A diminished triad chord or diminished chord is a triad
consisting of two minor third
s above the root
— if built on C, a diminished
chord would have a C, an E and a G. It resembles a minor triad
with a lowered (flattened) fifth.
In the common practice period
, the diminished chord is considered dissonant
, or unstable. It lacks tonal
center or drive because the diminished fifth symmetrically
divides the octave
.
A diminished chord occurs in a major scale
only on the seventh scale degree; in the key of C, this is a B diminished chord (B, D, F). This also occurs in the seventh chord
built on the fifth note; in C, this is G dominant seventh
(G, B, D, F).
In a twelve-tone equal tempered tuning, a diminished chord has 3 semitone
s between the third and fifth, 3 between the root and third, and 6 between the root and fifth. It is represented by the integer notation {0, 3, 6}. In just intonation
, the diminished triad on vii is tuned 135:162:160.
In most sheet music books , Cdim or C° denotes a diminished seventh chord
(a four note chord) with root C, and Cm-5 or Cmb5 denotes a diminished triad with root C. However, in some modern jazz books and some music theory literature , Cdim or C° denotes a diminished triad, while Cdim7 or C°7 denotes a diminished seventh chord.
"In [rock and] pop music, the diminished triad nearly always appears on the second scale degree, forming a generally maudlin and dejected ii with its members, 2—4—6." Songs that feature ii include Santo & Johnny
's Sleep Walk
, Herb Alpert
's "This Guy's in Love with You
", Jay and the Americans
' "Cara Mia
", and The Hollies
' "The Air That I Breathe
". Not so rare but rare enough so as to imply knowledge of and conscious avoidance on the part of rock musicians, examples of its use include Oasis
' "Don't Look Back In Anger
", David Bowie
's "Space Oddity", and two in Paul Young
's "Go Away
".
The ii6 chord is usually found in first inversion, since it is diminished with the bass note doubled since it is not a part of the tritone, while the vii7 chord appears with all four factors most often in root position. In both cases resolve the bass up and move the upper voices downwards in contrary motion. The popular music symbol for a diminished triad is a capital letter designating the root (as with a major chord) with MI(5) added. For example BMI(5) (see also Chord names and symbols (jazz and pop music)
).
Triad (music)
In music and music theory, a triad is a three-note chord that can be stacked in thirds. Its members, when actually stacked in thirds, from lowest pitched tone to highest, are called:* the Root...
consisting of two minor third
Minor third
In classical music from Western culture, a third is a musical interval encompassing three staff positions , and the minor third is one of two commonly occurring thirds. The minor quality specification identifies it as being the smallest of the two: the minor third spans three semitones, the major...
s above the root
Root (chord)
In music theory, the root of a chord is the note or pitch upon which a triadic chord is built. For example, the root of the major triad C-E-G is C....
— if built on C, a diminished
Diminution
In Western music and music theory, diminution has four distinct meanings. Diminution may be a form of embellishment in which a long note is divided into a series of shorter, usually melodic, values...
chord would have a C, an E and a G. It resembles a minor triad
Minor chord
In music theory, a minor chord is a chord having a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth.When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a minor triad....
with a lowered (flattened) fifth.
In the common practice period
Common practice period
The common practice period, in the history of Western art music , spanning the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods, lasted from c. 1600 to c. 1900.-General characteristics:...
, the diminished chord is considered dissonant
Consonance and dissonance
In music, a consonance is a harmony, chord, or interval considered stable, as opposed to a dissonance , which is considered to be unstable...
, or unstable. It lacks tonal
Tonality
Tonality is a system of music in which specific hierarchical pitch relationships are based on a key "center", or tonic. The term tonalité originated with Alexandre-Étienne Choron and was borrowed by François-Joseph Fétis in 1840...
center or drive because the diminished fifth symmetrically
Symmetry
Symmetry generally conveys two primary meanings. The first is an imprecise sense of harmonious or aesthetically pleasing proportionality and balance; such that it reflects beauty or perfection...
divides the octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
.
A diminished chord occurs in a major scale
Major scale
In music theory, the major scale or Ionian scale is one of the diatonic scales. It is made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first an octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, ", the "Do" in the parenthesis at...
only on the seventh scale degree; in the key of C, this is a B diminished chord (B, D, F). This also occurs in the seventh chord
Seventh chord
A seventh chord is a chord consisting of a triad plus a note forming an interval of a seventh above the chord's root. When not otherwise specified, a "seventh chord" usually means a major triad with an added minor seventh...
built on the fifth note; in C, this is G dominant seventh
Dominant seventh chord
In music theory, a dominant seventh chord, or major minor seventh chord,is a chord composed of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh. It can be also viewed as a major triad with an additional minor seventh...
(G, B, D, F).
In a twelve-tone equal tempered tuning, a diminished chord has 3 semitone
Semitone
A semitone, also called a half step or a half tone, is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and it is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically....
s between the third and fifth, 3 between the root and third, and 6 between the root and fifth. It is represented by the integer notation {0, 3, 6}. In just intonation
Just intonation
In music, just intonation is any musical tuning in which the frequencies of notes are related by ratios of small whole numbers. Any interval tuned in this way is called a just interval. The two notes in any just interval are members of the same harmonic series...
, the diminished triad on vii is tuned 135:162:160.
In most sheet music books , Cdim or C° denotes a diminished seventh chord
Diminished seventh chord
A diminished seventh chord is a four note chord that comprises a diminished triad plus the interval of a diminished seventh above the root. Thus it is , or enharmonically , of any major scale; for example, C diminished-seventh would be , or enharmonically...
(a four note chord) with root C, and Cm-5 or Cmb5 denotes a diminished triad with root C. However, in some modern jazz books and some music theory literature , Cdim or C° denotes a diminished triad, while Cdim7 or C°7 denotes a diminished seventh chord.
"In [rock and] pop music, the diminished triad nearly always appears on the second scale degree, forming a generally maudlin and dejected ii with its members, 2—4—6." Songs that feature ii include Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny
Santo & Johnny were an Italian-American rock and roll duo from Brooklyn, New York, comprising brothers Santo and Johnny Farina.They are best known for their instrumental "Sleep Walk", which became a regional hit and eventually reached the top of the Billboard pop chart when it was released...
's Sleep Walk
Sleep Walk
"Sleep Walk" is an instrumental steel guitar-based song written, recorded, and released in 1959 by brothers Santo & Johnny ....
, Herb Alpert
Herb Alpert
Herbert "Herb" Alpert is an American musician most associated with the group variously known as Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass, Herb Alpert's Tijuana Brass, or TJB. He is also a recording industry executive — he is the "A" of A&M Records...
's "This Guy's in Love with You
This Guy's in Love with You
"This Guy's in Love with You" is a song written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David, and recorded by Herb Alpert. Although known primarily for his trumpet playing as the leader of the Tijuana Brass, Alpert sang lead vocals on this solo recording, arranged by Bacharach.The recording's origin occurs, as...
", Jay and the Americans
Jay and the Americans
Jay and the Americans was a pop music group popular in the 1960s. Their initial lineup consisted of John "Jay" Traynor, Howard Kane , Kenny Vance and Sandy Deanne , though their greatest success on the charts came after Traynor had been replaced as lead singer by Jay Black.-Early years:They were...
' "Cara Mia
Cara Mia
"Cara Mia" is a popular song published in 1954 and became a hit for English singer David Whitfield in 1954 and a #4 hit by the American pop group Jay and the Americans in 1965. The title means "my beloved" in Italian....
", and The Hollies
The Hollies
The Hollies are an English pop and rock group, formed in Manchester in the early 1960s, though most of the band members are from throughout East Lancashire. Known for their distinctive vocal harmony style, they became one of the leading British groups of the 1960s and 1970s...
' "The Air That I Breathe
The Air That I Breathe
"The Air That I Breathe" is a ballad written by Albert Hammond and Mike Hazlewood, initially recorded by Albert Hammond on his 1972 album It Never Rains In Southern California.-History:...
". Not so rare but rare enough so as to imply knowledge of and conscious avoidance on the part of rock musicians, examples of its use include Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
' "Don't Look Back In Anger
Don't Look Back in Anger
"Don't Look Back in Anger" is a song by English rock band Oasis, released in 1996 as the fourth single from their hit second album Morning Glory?. The song was written by the band's guitarist and main songwriter, Noel Gallagher. The song became the band's second single to reach #1 in the UK...
", David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
's "Space Oddity", and two in Paul Young
Paul Young (singer and guitarist)
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Formerly the frontman of the short-lived bands Kat Kool & The Kool Cats, Streetband and Q-Tips, his following solo success as a solo recording artist turned him into a 1980s teenage pop idol...
's "Go Away
Everytime You Go Away
"Everytime You Go Away" is a song written by Daryl Hall and covered by Paul Young in 1985 .The original appeared on Hall & Oates's 1980 album, Voices, although it was not released as a single. Hall & Oates also recorded it for their 1985 concert album Live at the Apollo. Young's version hit number...
".
The ii6 chord is usually found in first inversion, since it is diminished with the bass note doubled since it is not a part of the tritone, while the vii7 chord appears with all four factors most often in root position. In both cases resolve the bass up and move the upper voices downwards in contrary motion. The popular music symbol for a diminished triad is a capital letter designating the root (as with a major chord) with MI(5) added. For example BMI(5) (see also Chord names and symbols (jazz and pop music)
Chord names and symbols (jazz and pop music)
Various kinds of chord names and symbols are used in different contexts, to represent musical chords. In jazz and popular music, a chord name and the corresponding symbol are typically composed of one or more of the following parts:# The root note ....
).
Diminished chord table
| Chord | Root | Minor Third | Diminished Fifth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cdim | C | E | G |
| C | E | G | |
| D | F (E) | A (G) | |
| Ddim | D | F | A |
| D | F | A | |
| E | G | B (A) | |
| Edim | E | G | B |
| Fdim | F | A | C (B) |
| F | A | C | |
| G | B (A) | D (C) | |
| Gdim | G | B | D |
| G | B | D | |
| A | C (B) | E (D) | |
| Adim | A | C | E |
| A | C | E | |
| B | D | F (E) | |
| Bdim | B | D | F |