The B Diminished Guitar chord, often represented as Bdim or B°, is a unique and somewhat enigmatic chord in the guitarist’s toolkit. While not as frequently used as major or minor chords, understanding and being able to play a B diminished chord opens up a world of harmonic possibilities and adds depth to your guitar playing. This guide will explore the B diminished triad, its voicings on the guitar, and techniques to play it cleanly and effectively.
Understanding the B Diminished Triad
First, let’s clarify what constitutes a diminished triad. A diminished triad is a three-note chord built with two minor thirds stacked on top of each other. For a B diminished guitar chord, this means the notes are B, D, and F.
It’s important to distinguish between a diminished triad and diminished seventh chords. Terms like “fully diminished” and “half-diminished” specifically refer to seventh chords, not triads. A fully diminished seventh chord (Bdim7) adds a diminished seventh interval above the root (an Ab in the case of Bdim7), while a half-diminished seventh chord (Bm7b5) adds a minor seventh (an A for Bm7b5). Both of these seventh chords are built upon the foundation of the B diminished triad (B-D-F).
Voicing the B Diminished Chord on Guitar
Diminished triads, including the B diminished guitar chord, are not commonly voiced across all six strings due to their inherent structure and the guitar’s tuning. Full, six-string voicings can sound muddy or awkward. Instead, guitarists often utilize 3-string voicings, muting the unused strings for clarity. This technique is highly valuable for various chord types, especially on electric and steel-string acoustic guitars where unwanted string resonance can be prominent. Muting can be achieved using thumb muting (particularly for the low E string) or by using fretting hand fingers to silence adjacent strings.
Here are some common 3-string voicings for the B diminished guitar triad, played on the D, G, and B strings (from lowest to highest note):
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Voicing 1:
x x 3 4 3 xIn this voicing, your thumb can mute the low E string. The finger fretting the D string (index finger on the 3rd fret) can mute the A string. The high E string can be muted by the first finger as well, or naturally damped.
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Voicing 2:
x x 9 7 6 xSimilar muting techniques apply here. Experiment with thumb muting and finger muting to achieve a clean sound.
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Voicing 3:
x x 12 10 12 xThis higher voicing offers a different tonal color. Again, focus on precise muting of the outer strings.
Alt text: B diminished guitar chord diagram, voicing x x 3 4 3 x, showing finger placement and muted strings.
From these three basic voicings, you can derive further shapes on other string sets by understanding the intervallic relationships within the diminished triad and transposing the shapes accordingly.
Root on the E or A String
If you require the root of the B diminished guitar chord to be on the E or A string, you can adapt the voicings. By dropping the root of the first two voicings an octave lower, you get:
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Voicing 4:
x 2 3 x 3 xThe finger on the A string (2nd fret) can help mute the low E string.
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Voicing 5:
7 x x 7 6 xSimilarly, the finger on the low E string (7th fret) assists in muting the A string.
Alt text: B diminished guitar chord diagram, voicing x 2 3 x 3 x, demonstrating root on the A string and muting technique.
Expanding the Voicing
You can also enrich these voicings by doubling the root note. In Voicing 4, you can double the root on the G string:
- Voicing 6:
x 2 3 4 3 x
In Voicing 5, you can add the root to the high E string:
- Voicing 7:
7 x x 7 6 7
Alt text: B diminished guitar chord diagram, voicing 7 x x 7 6 7, highlighting root note doubling on the high E string.
Diminished Seventh Chords: A Simpler Approach
As a final note, playing fully or half-diminished seventh chords can sometimes feel easier than just the triad. This is because the addition of the seventh note means you have four notes to work with, potentially making voicings feel more complete and balanced across the fretboard and reducing the need for extensive muting of open strings in some positions.
Mastering the B diminished guitar chord triad and its voicings is a valuable step in expanding your harmonic vocabulary and guitar technique. Practice these voicings and muting techniques to incorporate this distinctive chord into your playing.
