Diminished Guitar Chords

Chord Formulas :

Half Diminished : 1  b3  b5    b7
Diminished :         1  b3  b5  bb7
Minor/Major 7 :     1  b3    5       7

Below are the chord charts for the most common half-diminished, diminished and minor/major 7 guitar chords (m/maj7). m/maj7 chords have a b3 and a natural 7 and are a more colorful alternative for tonic minor chords.

Dimished chords are formed by superimposing 3 minor third intervals. This means that there are only 3 different diminished chords, because each inversion is identical:

• C°7 = Eb°7 = Gb°7 = A°7
• C#°7 = E°7 = G°7 = Bb°7
• D°7 = F°7 = Ab°7 = B°7

This symmetrical structure makes it easy to play the inversions of diminished chords on the guitar: just move the chord shape 3 frets up or down.

1. Half diminished & diminished chords with the root on the E string

2. Half diminished & diminished chords with the root on the A string

3. Half diminished & diminished chords with the root on the D string