The B flat diminished chord contains B♭, D♭ and F♭. It is a three-note triad with formula 1–♭3–♭5. On the piano, F♭ is played on the E key.
The B flat diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: B♭ to D♭, then D♭ to F♭. Count three semitones for each step. Keep the spelling F♭ because this note is the lowered fifth above B♭.
Preserve the written spelling F♭ even when it shares a piano key with a simpler enharmonic name.
Choose a position to keep the written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
B♭dim uses 1–♭3–♭5: B♭–D♭–F♭.
Compared with B♭ minor, lower the fifth by one semitone.
The chord tones stay the same while the lowest chord tone changes.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | B♭dim | B♭3–D♭4–F♭4 | B♭3 |
| First inversion | B♭dim/D♭ | D♭4–F♭4–B♭4 | D♭4 |
| Second inversion | B♭dim/F♭ | F♭4–B♭4–D♭5 | F♭4 |
Use the B flat diminished chord diagrams to locate keys and compare note order. Finger numbers are not prescribed. Moving the lowest note up an octave changes the inversion while preserving the three chord tones.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: diminished triad formula and written tone spelling
Scope: Supports the chord formula and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
B♭, D♭ and F♭. F♭ sounds on the same piano key as E, but its written name shows the diminished fifth.
No. B♭ minor uses F natural; the B flat diminished chord lowers that fifth to F♭. Both use D♭ as their third.
No. This reference shows a three-note diminished triad. A diminished seventh chord adds a fourth note, so its symbol and note set are different.
D♭ is lowest in the first inversion; F♭ is lowest in the second. Select a position above to compare the diagrams and hear the rearranged notes.
Select the three pitch classes that make B♭dim, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks pitch classes. Order and octave do not affect the result; fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: B♭–D♭–F♭ · Formula: 1, ♭3, ♭5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.