B♭dim

B♭dim is the bb diminished chord, spelled B♭ – D♭ – F♭. tense and unstable by design — built from stacked minor thirds, it begs to resolve.

The keys
C4C5C6
B♭ – D♭ – F♭
Practise this chord

Plug in your MIDI keyboard and let Coach Tshepho drill you on B♭dim — it plays the chord, names any wrong notes as you play, and moves you on when you nail it.

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What's inside B♭dim
NoteInterval from rootDegree
B♭Root1
D♭Minor 3rdb3
F♭Diminished 5thb5
Inversions
PositionKeys (low → high)
Root positionB♭4 – D♭5 – E5
1st inversionD♭5 – E5 – B♭5
2nd inversionE5 – B♭5 – D♭6
A working voicing

Split the chord between two hands the way working players do — a solid shell low down, the colour tones up top:

HandKeys
Left (shell)B♭2 – B♭3
Right (colour)D♭5 – E5
Where B♭dim lives

As the I chord

B♭dim → E♭ → F → B♭dim

The classic I–IV–V–I motion with this chord as home.

In a ii–V–I

Cm7 → F7 → B♭dim

The strongest cadence in harmony, resolving onto this chord.

Put B♭dim under your fingers

Hear every voicing, see the keys light up, and drill it in the interactive Chord & Voicing Lab.

Open the Chord & Voicing Lab →
Worship songs that use B♭dim
Ngeke Ng’suke Kuwe · Mmuso Worship ft Oncemore Six Wakuabudiwa · Dr Tumi The Only Name · Mmuso Worship
Take it further
Build a progression with it → Reharmonize it →
More Bb chords
B♭ B♭m B♭aug B♭sus2 B♭sus4 B♭6 B♭m6 B♭7 B♭maj7 B♭m7 B♭m7♭5 B♭dim7 B♭m(maj7) B♭9 B♭maj9 B♭m9 B♭add9 B♭6/9 B♭m11 B♭13 B♭7♭9 B♭7♯9 B♭7♯5
Diminished in every key
Cdim C♯dim Ddim E♭dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim A♭dim Adim Bdim
Play it over a groove
Free worship grooves & loops →