B♭dim
Bb Diminished — tense and unstable by design — built from stacked minor thirds, it begs to resolve.
The keys
B♭ – D♭ – F♭
What's inside B♭dim
| Note | Interval from root | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| B♭ | Root | 1 |
| D♭ | Minor 3rd | b3 |
| F♭ | Diminished 5th | b5 |
Inversions
| Position | Keys (low → high) |
|---|---|
| Root position | B♭4 – D♭5 – E5 |
| 1st inversion | D♭5 – E5 – B♭5 |
| 2nd inversion | E5 – 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:
| Hand | Keys |
|---|---|
| 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 →