What is a Diminished Chord? #MusicMonday

Diminished chords have a distinct tone that’s eerie, dark, and dissonant. Here’s what a diminished chord is: a triad built from the root note, minor third, and a diminished fifth. But what does that mean? Here’s an exploration of diminished chords from Icon Collective:

For example, a C major triad has the notes C (the root), E (the third), and G (the fifth). Therefore, a diminished C triad has the notes C, Eb, and Gb.

However, the flattened fifth makes diminished chords sound unstable and creates a desire for tonal resolution. They leave the listener hanging, which makes the resolve back to consonant chords more impactful. This sense of tension makes them interesting chords to use in your progressions.

See and hear more!