Diminished Chord

Definition

A diminished chord is a triad that consists of a root note, a minor third, and a diminished fifth. It is characterized by its tense and unstable sound, often used to create tension that resolves to more stable chords. Diminished chords are important in harmony and chord progressions, often serving as a leading tone that draws the listener’s ear toward the tonic or home chord.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Diminished chords can be notated as 'dim' or by using a small circle (°) next to the chord name, indicating their diminished quality.
2. They can occur in both major and minor keys, often functioning as dominant seventh chords or leading tones.
3. The diminished chord can be inverted to produce different voicings while maintaining its quality, which allows for greater flexibility in composition.
4. Diminished seventh chords are formed by stacking three minor thirds on top of one another, resulting in a four-note chord that is highly versatile in creating tension.
5. Common progressions featuring diminished chords include moving from a diminished chord to its resolution on the tonic or using them as passing chords to bridge other harmonies.

Review Questions

• How does the structure of a diminished chord contribute to its distinctive sound?
  • A diminished chord's structure includes a root note, a minor third, and a diminished fifth. This combination of intervals creates a tense and unstable sound, making it feel unresolved. The dissonance produced by the diminished fifth contributes significantly to this feeling, which is why diminished chords are often used to build tension before resolving to more stable chords.
• Discuss the role of diminished chords in harmonic progressions and their function within different musical contexts.
  • Diminished chords play a crucial role in harmonic progressions as they create tension that often resolves to tonic chords. In many musical contexts, they serve as leading tones that guide the listener's ear toward resolution. They can appear in various genres of music, from classical to jazz, enhancing emotional depth through their dissonant quality. By acting as transitional or passing chords, they enrich the overall harmonic landscape.
• Evaluate how the use of diminished seventh chords can affect the mood and texture of a piece of music.
  • The use of diminished seventh chords can dramatically impact the mood and texture of a piece by introducing heightened tension and complexity. Since they consist of stacked minor thirds, these chords can evoke feelings of suspense or urgency, making them particularly effective in dramatic passages or transitions. Their ability to resolve to multiple tonal centers allows composers to explore various harmonic directions, thus enriching the emotional palette of the music.

Related terms

Minor Third: An interval spanning three half steps, creating a darker and more somber sound, crucial in forming diminished chords.

Diminished Fifth: An interval spanning six half steps that creates a dissonant sound and is essential in the structure of diminished chords.

Augmented Chord:

A triad consisting of a root note, a major third, and an augmented fifth, producing a bright and unstable sound that contrasts with diminished chords.