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Triads · Chord Type
Diminished Chord
A tense, unstable triad built from two stacked minor thirds.
0 st3 st6 st
How to Hear It
Two stacked minor thirds create maximum tension. The tritone between root and flattened fifth gives it an unstable, seeking quality.
Hear the Diminished Chord
Famous Examples
- Whole Lotta Love (diminished run) — Led Zeppelin
- Michelle (Bdim) — Beatles
Diminished in All 12 Keys
Related Triads
About the Diminished Chord
Built from the semitone intervals 0, 3, 6 from the root, the diminished chord belongs to the triads family and appears across virtually every genre of music.
To train your ear to recognise the diminished chord instantly, practice hearing it in all 12 keys. Use the links above to target specific roots, or open the full recognition trainer.