Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
B flat diminished chord (B♭dim) — guitar chord chart
B♭dim is a diminished chord built on B♭. Its notes are B♭, D♭, F♭. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord. It’s also written A♯dim.
B♭dim chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play B♭dim
- Index (1) on the 5th string, fret 1 (B♭).
- Middle (2) on the 4th string, fret 2 (E).
- Little finger (4) on the 3rd string, fret 3 (B♭).
- Ring (3) on the 2nd string, fret 2 (C♯).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play strings 6, 1.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Adim shape — it sounds as B♭dim. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in B♭dim
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B♭ | root |
| ♭3 | D♭ | minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | F♭ | diminished 5th |
Progressions with B♭dim
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the B♭dim chord?
- B♭dim (B flat diminished) has 3 notes: B♭, D♭, F♭.
- Is B♭dim hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Adim shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between B♭dim and B♭?
- B♭ is B♭ D F. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord.
- Is B♭dim the same as A♯dim?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.