Chords reference
Diminished Triad
A diminished triad is a three-note chord containing a root, a minor third, and a diminished fifth.
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C Diminished Chord
- Theory
- Chord
- Written root
- C
- Instrument
- 6-string Guitar
- Tuning
- E Standard
- Labels
- Notes
- Handedness
- Right handed
| String, low to high | Fret | Current label | Note | Degree | Interval | Root |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 1 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 1 | 14 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 1 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 1 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 3 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 6 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 9 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 2 | 15 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 2 | 18 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 2 | 21 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 3 | 1 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 4 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 3 | 10 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 3 | 13 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 3 | 16 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 3 | 22 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 5 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 8 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 11 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 4 | 17 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 4 | 20 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 4 | 23 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 5 | 1 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 4 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 7 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 5 | 13 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 5 | 16 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 5 | 19 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 6 | 2 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 6 | 8 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 11 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
| 6 | 14 | Gb | Gb | 5 | b5 | No |
| 6 | 20 | C | C | 1 | 1 | Yes |
| 6 | 23 | Eb | Eb | 3 | b3 | No |
Overview
The diminished triad differs from a minor triad by lowering its fifth. That altered outer interval removes the perfect fifth and creates a tritone between root and fifth.
Construction
The authoritative definition forms the chord from two stacked minor thirds. The root-to-diminished-fifth relationship gives the triad its name and much of its tension.
Characteristics
The chord's two minor thirds create a compact symmetrical spacing, while the diminished fifth weakens the stability associated with major and minor triads. Its tones often move efficiently by semitone into neighbouring chords.
Applications
Diminished triads appear within diatonic harmony, leading-tone motion, passing harmony, and modal analysis. Locating their chord tones is also useful preparation for half-diminished and fully diminished seventh structures.