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The diminished triad
Major and minor are the two chords you already know. There is a third one, built from two minor thirds stacked on top of each other — and it is the most restless chord in music. It is written B° or Bdim.
Plain prints every note in black, without the color coding.
Listen
Play each example here, or download it as an MP3 (audio) or a MIDI file.
Squeeze the triad
- C major, C minor, C diminished: one note drops at a time0:11
- C diminished: C, E♭, G♭, then together0:08
Why it sounds restless
- The tritone: B up to F, then together0:10
Where you meet it
- B° leans in, C major answers0:08
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Free to use in your own lessons and practice. Made by the teachers at Tissimo.