Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: B and D#dim

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days (USA Thanksgiving off). Check out the full list here.

Each chord map attempts to appeal to both beginners and intermediate/advanced guitarists and keyboardists. Simple chord shapes for beginners are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note


Our first chord is B major, or simply, B:

Guitarists, I think in many other chord resources, this particular major barre chord shape contains two barres: The index finger (1) from the A string to the high E string, and the ring finger (3) over the D, G, and B strings. However, I don't usually fret that chord that way, so what's diagrammed above is how I play.


Keyboardists, in the B chord, B-D#-F# is the root position of the chord. D#-F#-B is what's known as the first inversion, and F#-B-D# is the second inversion of the chord. It's helpful to know these alternative note orders, especially when switching from chord to chord. Instead of playing the root position up and down the keyboard, you can keep your hand(s) in relatively the same spot by playing root positions and inversions at your convenience.


Our second chord is D-sharp diminished, or D#dim:

Guitarists, as you may have noticed, I tend to rely on two moveable chord shapes for diminished triads -- one with the root note on the low E string (i.e., G#dim, etc.) and one with the root note on the A string, like the chord shape above.


Keyboardists, as you may have noticed, D? triads are formed with a D? note, an F? note, and an A? note. The ? denotes -- ha, pun! -- the use of an accidental symbol (b, #, etc.) or no accidental. For example, D#dim is D#-F#-A. The D major chord is D-F#-A. Dm is D-F-A.


Similarly, E? triads are E?-G?-B?; F? triads are F?-A?-C?; G? triads are G?-B?-D?; A? triads are A?-C?-E?; B? triads are B?-D?-F?; and C? triads are C?-E?-G? notes.


Two more tomorrow. Cheers!

The C Major Scale and Triads

Scale: C D E F G A B C (i.e., the white keys on a piano)

C major: C D E F G A B C

D minor: C D E F G A B C

E minor: C D E F G A B C

F major: C D E F G A B C

G major: C D E F G A B C D

A minor: C D E F G A B C D E

B diminished: C D E F G A B C D E F

F Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the Bb major scale consists of the F, G, A, Bb, C, D, and E notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of F major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. F major (made of the F, A, and C notes);
ii. G minor (G, Bb, and D notes);
iii. A minor (A, C, and E notes);
IV. Bb major (Bb, D, and F notes);
V. C major (C, E, and G notes);
vi. D minor (D, F, and A notes); and
vii(b5). E diminished (E, G, and Bb notes).

Bb Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the Bb major scale consists of the Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, and A notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of Bb major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. Bb major (made of the Bb, D, and F notes);
ii. C minor (C, Eb, and G notes);
iii. D minor (D, F, and A notes);
IV. Eb major (Eb, G, and Bb notes);
V. F major (F, A, and C notes);
vi. G minor (G, Bb, and D notes); and
vii(b5). A diminished (A, C, and Eb notes).

Eb Chord Progressions: Suspended Triads

Adding to yesterday's list of triads, here are some more simple triads in the key of Eb major, replacing the (major or minor) third note with either a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th:

Isus2. Ebsus2 (Eb-F-Bb)
I. Eb major (Eb-G-Bb)
Isus4. Ebsus4 (Eb-Ab-Bb)

iisus2. Fsus2 (F-G-C)
ii. Fm (F-Ab-C)
iisus4. Fsus4 (F-Bb-C)

iii. Gm (G-Bb-D)
iiisus4. Gsus4 (G-C-D)

IVsus2. Absus2 (Ab-Bb-Eb)
IV. Ab major (Ab-C-Eb)

Vsus2. Bbsus2 (Bb-C-F)
V. Bb major (Bb-D-F)
Vsus4. Bbsus4 (Bb-Eb-F)

visus2. Csus2 (C-D-G)
vi. Cm (C-Eb-G)
visus4. Csus4 (C-F-G)

vii(b5). Ddim (D-F-Ab)
vii(b5)sus4. D(b5)sus4 (D-G-Ab)

To spice up your chord progressions, use a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th instead of or in addition to the basic major and minor chords.

Eb Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the Eb major scale consists of the Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, and D notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of Eb major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. Eb major (made of the Eb, G, and Bb notes);
ii. F minor (F, Ab, and C notes);
iii. G minor (G, Bb, and D notes);
IV. Ab major (Ab, C, and Eb notes);
V. Bb major (Bb, D, and F notes);
vi. C minor (C, Eb, and G notes); and
vii(b5). D diminished (D, F, and Ab notes).

Ab Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the Ab major scale consists of the Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, and G notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of Ab major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. Ab major (made of the Ab, C, and Eb notes);
ii. Bb minor (Bb, Db, and F notes);
iii. C minor (C, Eb, and G notes);
IV. Db major (Db, F, and Ab notes);
V. Eb major (Eb, G, and Bb notes);
vi. F minor (F, Ab, and C notes); and
vii(b5). G diminished (G, Bb, and Db notes).

Db Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the Db major scale consists of the Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, and C notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of Db major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. Db major (made of the Db, F, and Ab notes);
ii. Eb minor (Eb, Gb, and Bb notes);
iii. F minor (F, Ab, and C notes);
IV. Gb major (Gb, Bb, and Db notes);
V. Ab major (Ab, C, and Eb notes);
vi. Bb minor (Bb, Db, and F notes); and
vii(b5). C diminished (C, Eb, and Gb notes).

D Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the D major scale consists of the D, E, F#, G, A, B and C# notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of D major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. D major (made of the D, F#, and A notes);
ii. E minor (E, G, and B notes);
iii. F# minor (F#, A, and C# notes);
IV. G major (G, B, and D notes);
V. A major (A, C#, and E notes);
vi. B minor (B, D, and F# notes); and
vii(b5). C# diminished (C#, E, and G notes).

As we'll see later, the capitalization or lack of capitalization for the above Roman numerals provides an additional visual aid when substituting chords in different keys.

G Chord Progressions: Suspended Triads

Adding to yesterday's list of triads, here are some more simple triads in the key of G major, replacing the third note with either a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th:

Isus2. Gsus2 (G-A-D)
I. G major (G-B-D)
Isus4. Gsus4 (G-C-D)

iisus2. Asus2 (A-B-E)
ii. Am (A-C-E)
iisus4. Asus4 (A-D-E)

iii. Bm (B-D-F#)
iiisus4. Bsus4 (B-E-F#)

IVsus2. Csus2 (C-D-G)
IV. C major (C-E-G)

Vsus2. Dsus2 (D-E-A)
V. D major (D-F#-A)
Vsus4. Dsus4 (D-G-A)

visus2. Esus2 (E-F#-B)
vi. Em (E-G-B)
visus4. Esus4 (E-A-B)

vii(b5). F#dim (F#-A-C)
vii(b5)sus4. F#(b5)sus4 (F#-B-C)

To spice up your chord progressions, use a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th instead of or in addition to the basic major and minor chords.

G Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the G major scale consists of the G, A, B, C, D, E, and F# notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of G major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. G major (made of the G, B, and D notes);
ii. A minor (A, C, and E notes);
iii. B minor (B, D, and F# notes);
IV. C major (C, E, and G notes);
V. D major (D, F#, and A notes);
vi. E minor (E, G, and B notes); and
vii(b5). F# diminished (F#, A, and C notes).

As we'll see later, the capitalization or lack of capitalization for the above Roman numerals provides an additional visual aid when substituting chords in different keys.

C Chord Progressions: Suspended Triads

Adding to yesterday's list of triads, here are some more simple triads in the key of C major, replacing the third note with either a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th:

Isus2. Csus2 (C-D-G)
I. C major (C-E-G)
Isus4. Csus4 (C-F-G)

iisus2. Dsus2 (D-E-A)
ii. Dm (D-F-A)
iisus4. Dsus4 (D-G-A)

iii. Em (E-G-B)
iiisus4. Esus4 (E-A-B)

IVsus2. Fsus2 (F-G-C)
IV. F major (F-A-C)

Vsus2. Gsus2 (G-A-D)
V. G major (G-B-D)
Vsus4. Gsus4 (G-C-D)

visus2. Asus2 (A-B-E)
vi. Am (A-C-E)
visus4. Asus4 (A-D-E)

vii(b5). Bdim (B-D-F)
vii(b5)sus4. B(b5)sus4 (B-E-F)

To spice up your chord progressions, use a suspended 2nd or suspended 4th instead of or in addition to the basic major and minor chords.

C Chord Progressions: Basic Triads

If you remember from previous entries, the C major scale consists of the C, D, E, F, G, A, and B notes. This scale will relate directly to the simple triads (that is, three-note chords made of the root, major/minor third, and diminished/perfect fifth notes) in the key of C major (please refer to this website or elsewhere for more information):

I. C major (made of the C, E, and G notes);
ii. D minor (D, F, and A notes);
iii. E minor (E, G, and B notes);
IV. F major (F, A, and C notes);
V. G major (G, B, and D notes);
vi. A minor (A, C, and E notes); and
vii(b5). B diminished (B, D, and F notes).

As we'll see later, the capitalization or lack of capitalization for the above Roman numerals provides an additional visual aid when substituting chords in different keys.