Diminished
Minor third and diminished fifth: two stacked minor thirds. Unstable, asking for resolution.
Symbol ° · C° Triad
Listen
Notes of the chord
1 C m3 E♭ ♭5 G♭
C
Where you have heard it
Grau vii° leading to the tonic
Passagens cromáticas links between keys
What it gets confused with
Frequently asked
Which notes make a diminished chord?
Root, minor third and diminished fifth — two minor thirds stacked, for example B, D and F.
Why does it sound unstable?
The diminished fifth is a tritone, and a tritone asks to resolve. The chord is heard as motion, not as rest.
Where does it turn up?
On the seventh degree, leading to the tonic, and in chromatic passages linking one key to another.
There is an exercise track dedicated to recognising this by ear.
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