About the B♭dim chord
The diminished triad stacks two minor thirds, giving a tense, unstable sound. It is usually a passing chord that leads somewhere else. The symbol for it is B♭dim. (also written A♯dim)
B♭1
D♭♭3
F♭♭5
How to play B♭dim
- Put your index finger on the A string at fret 1.
- Put your middle finger on the D string at fret 2.
- Put your ring finger on the B string at fret 2.
- Put your little finger on the G string at fret 3.
- Strum and let the high E string ring open, and don't play the low E string.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Other B♭ chords
B♭dim chord questions
What notes are in a B♭dim chord?
B♭dim is made of B♭, D♭ and F♭. In intervals that is 1, ♭3, ♭5 above the root, B♭.
What is the easiest way to play B♭dim?
The first shape above is the most common one: x 1 2 3 2 0 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is B♭dim a barre chord?
The main shape above is an open chord with no barre. Some of the other shapes further up the neck do use a barre, which lets you move the same shape to any key.