Deconstructing Diminished Chords - Music Theory for Guitar

[@TheIHSAN666]

5:51 fretboard diminishes.

[@dhruv568]

LOL

[@DnkJMusic]

😂

[@bowbert23]

Hands down the best and most informative music theory and amateur guitarist friendly channel. I've gained so much useful knowledge owing to you Jake! 👍

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

Agreed, no one even comes close to the Liz

[@milleribsenalbeefan]

Honestly Jake your channel has been invaluable for my study of music theory, creating rhythm progressions, and developing a chord "vocabulary". Resources for such study in Kuwait are relatively limited, and your channel has been a trove of knowledge and musicianship. Keep at it man you're a great teacher and musician

[@anweshbhattacharya8017]

From India here and I've been binging on his content for the last 2 months. I've sat down and analysed the songs he chooses in his videos, and gone ahead to analyse songs of my own liking. I'm able to come up with original progressions/tunes easily, and I've developed my own internal ear. All thanks to Jake for pushing mere mortals like us to analyse songs. That's the only way to develop a mature musical ear. Thanks Jake!!!!!

[@kmisi1]

in my band we have a song called ADD - that's because those are the first chords so I decided to write the lyrics about attention deficit disorder. I always say I'm so glad that the first chord isn't something like F#m7b5, that wouldn't sound great as a song title, and it would be quite hard to write lyrics about it! and as always, the lesson is brilliant.

[@violetraven9440]

That’s actually very clever honestly props to you I don’t think I’d be able to come up with that

[@maze3462]

Great lesson. This channel is the most underrated KZbin channel. I have learned so much from here.

[@desert_rat_guitar]

This a simple but excellent presentation of the kinds and nomenclature of diminished chords. Thanks Jake, I'm glad you're back.

[@rgcjac]

Just stumbled upon your channel and I have to tell you that you have brought to light so many guitar playing concepts and music theory elements that I have never heard of! Like the plagal chord sequence or the Mobius loop in "I am the Walrus". I can't wait to check out your other posts. Refreshing to learn some new things instead of the old repetitive stuff on KZbin. Thanks!

[@Ophius]

Loved the video. So clear on what diminished chords are about. However, the word "diminished" now looks weird.

[@baylinkdashyt]

"Pepsodent syndrome"

[@ashisrai6265]

It cleared my doubts and confusion, it was also easy to understand and straightforward, thank you so much for making this, truly appreciated

[@PrateekplaysGuitars]

I actually like the sound of a diminished chord.

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

Me too

[@euclid9492]

It’s very satisfying when you put one in the correct place. Usually as a passing tone but if you make it sound good just hanging out on one it’s even better, it feels like you’ve accomplished something slightly unique unique.

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

We all do brother

[@fallen969]

Sound like surf rock

[@IGarrettI]

Diminished and augmented chords are my favourite

[@jhowardkelley]

I met Mel Bay back in the day in Kirkwood, MO. I had a guitar that needed work. Mel picked it up and played the diminished lick going up three frets at a time to impress me, which I was very impressed. Love the channel, if helps everyone get more creative!

[@PIANOSTYLE100]

This came up in my KZbin feed. It is a very good video. I started Ukulele about age 8 using Mel Bay books as I recall . About 10 my dad bought me a 🎸 and showed me how to 'pick out' songs.. About 4 years later started piano lessons 72- 76.. learned how read simple music. Started to learn some Chet Atkins finger picking. All tabs at first. Over a 40 + years of personal study of various instruments.. I had learned much of what you talked about.. occasionally I read or watch a few mistakes.in various videos. I saw none at all on this video.

[@imannonymous7707]

When i think of how hard i work to get nowhere and i see someone like yerself . It makes me wonder why i wasted half my life . Cuz you make everything look easy and sensible and its not a struggle at all for you....thanks for all ur work i really enjoy the subject matter you chose.

[@chrisbassartist4344]

Bro I’ve been watching your videos and I love them!! I’m a bassist and I’m starting to compose so it’s very inspiring to learn more theory and how the guitar is played so I can bring ideas to my band thank you!!

[@mei.mei1]

Thank you for making this video. It's the clearest explanation I've come across after watching vid after vid and reading blog after blog. Thank you for making the guitar and music theory so approachable!

[@faustobass]

I've been reading article after article trying to get a better understanding of the diminished chords, and your explanation is by far was the most concise and easy to understand. Thank you for sharing!

[@BryanErnest]

Wow!! All my life I've been confused about this shit! It's all clear now. You SIR, deserve a hug and a lot more! THANK YOU :)

[@arnjones6028]

Thank you, Jake, truly enlightening. This is the first time I've seen the diatonic scale diminished conundrum explained!!!!

[@TSLCHARNA]

Ive been playing guitar for over forty years now and I'm always looking to learn more. Your videos are so easy to follow and you have a engaging presentation style. The production quality is top notch too. Thanks so much.

[@FreeSalesTips]

I hear you. Now that I know about the quality of this man's work, I would personally pay full price for (one ore more) DVDs of this work. I know that my money is going towards some good quality education that I can comprehend and use.

[@simondavies6270]

Thanks Jake, for making this video, this lesson cleared up a lot of confusion I had as I was about to dive into one of many music theory books that I have gathering dust on my bedroom floor.

[@morrownow]

I saw a couple of videos about this on KZbin and I was still. You're explanation was perfect, now I understand, Thank You!

[@fredericadda]

This made A LOT of sense to me! I was very confused when a pianist told me to play a diminished chord and I felt she was referring to a m5b7 (because the full diminished chord just sounded wrong). Now I know why.

[@billschape]

Yes, people are still out here watching. This video has been a huge help for me. For the first time I think I understand is the Difference between four diminished and a half diminished.

[@jiles7726]

the details are all here, complete and super well explained... powerful, crystal clear teacher, great charts and lots of fun too!!

[@bobbymcloughlin3452]

0:42 Diminished Triad 1:30 Diminished Tetrads, Diminished Dominant 7 (dim7) & Diminished Major 7 (m7b5) 1:35 Diminished Dominant 7 (dim7) Diminished Tetrad 3:33 Diminished Major 7 (m7b5) Diatonic Diminished Tetrad

[@mikemorada6290]

What stand out the most out of your content is you exceptional teaching skill. Comprehensive content yet apprehensive to the viewers.b

[@samueldon8346]

Thank you, Jake. You are making quaramtine so much more interestingband fun.

[@bobsaturday4273]

holy cow ! you prove dim chords can be clearly and fully explained in under 7 mins . quite a style you have , did you take a breath along the way ? really do appreciate your brisk approach , not plodding along like we're all morons as some of these other lessons seem to imply belaboring simple concepts as though they were rocket science . concise and to the point , clear as a bell with any ambiguity dispelled . thanx SMS

[@mattmannering6749]

Thank you so much for this...Stash f Phish was the only diminished chord Ive played by chance.

[@hummamwasfi7882]

Excellent teaching skills - thank you for being humble, quick and clear. Excellent tips and ideas. I would love to hear more about how you would improve strumming on the acoustic guitar and maybe something about arpeggios. Thanks again

[@J.D....]

I like to think of a diminshed chord (m7b5) as a rootless V7/9 chord: E.g in C major I = 1 V7(9) = G7(9) and the seventh degree is bdim (m7b5). It's notes are b d f a. Only missing the root from G9

[@oneeyemonster3262]

From A minor as the parent Key A harmonic minor G#, B, D, F...... In other words...You can also play the Loc maj6...Dor #4 and Lydian #2 as FULL Diminished..#4 or b5 = TRITONE You can also Vamp the Lydian b3 over the A ( E harmonic MAJOR) Now you'll get A C, D#, F# as FULL diminished.. You'll also get B7 into E Maj7......Sort of like G7 into C maj7...yes? Or D# loc b4, bb7 into E harmonic minor F# loc maj6....yes??? You can also Vamp A harmonic minor b5 ( F Hungarian MAJOR) Mix #2, #4......R, #2, #4, 6 ....or R, #2, #4, b7.....Are you still with Me??? K...you can also go to the C Major and play C Harmonic MAJOR F lydian Diminished ...F Ab, B, D.....G7 into C Maj7 The HARMONIC MAJOR and HARMONIC minor VII , II, IV, vi...are ALL POSSIBLE DIM......in other words dim into MAJOR or MINOR... Are you still with me??? Why the hell would you play the A dim ???? A dim B min into C melodic minor......yes??? or B dim C# into D min..yes ???? You know... F7...G7....A dim....B dim....C min...Dmin...Eb aug.lol You can play Eb aug into E minor...too , yes??? BTW...F mix #2, #4...it can go 1, 3.5 b7....too YOu can also alter the C, E, G# to AUGMENTED E phrygian dominant.....1, 3, b6.....Are you still with me???? Or C augmented into F minor.....yes??? If you want to go to G Minor...The F# dim A dim works but you can also do ( N6) A harmonic minor b2 or A melodic minor b2 Play the Bb as Maj , Maj7 or Aug.....You can make it dominant or dim..too The A is the II chord of G Minor...whatever right??? in others....Dim...min...Dominant....Maj...Aug...Pushing up the chord color. The II chord of G melodic minor is minor....yes? You can make the C as C7....C7 into F Minor or F Major. Bb7, C7 into F melodic minor.... You can also pretend the Bb is a sort of Lydian into D minor

[@CesarDainezi]

Interesting. I've always seen them as the ii of minor or the vii of major.

[@zac3392]

OneEyE Monster Well if u think of ur vii as an upside down teepee and 2 totem poles, and then flatten it with a steamroller, you end up with a fully demolished half clutched Delorean... or u may want to double flat the flattened phrygian fritter, (but only if ur frygian guitar has a friggin' good tone). This is what we in the industry sometimes call a 7 splattered, smothered, and covered minor... and of course the most important rule about minors.... Never, EVER, under any circumstance, sell them alcohol...

[@Apfelstrudl]

@@zac3392 most underrated comment found 😂

[@bubblevest1544]

OneEye Monster did you really just type all of that ?

[@nicholasvangaasbeek5908]

I ended up writing a snazzy little progression that goes like: Dmin7 -> Dbdim7 -> C11 -> Bmin7b5 -> Bbmin6/9 -> Amin7 -> Abmin6#5 / G# dim7 -> Gmin7 -> Gdim7 -> Dmin7

[@abanana2561]

My pretty little ditty goes like: Ba ba DO Da La ah ba

[@aptelbruno8316]

Thank you Jake for being so clear and so complete !

[@sierradelta07]

After years of messing around I decided to actually LEARN what diminished chord are. This was so clear and helpful and knowing that the m7b5 is the default has made things so much easier. Now I just need to keep practicing it. Thanks so much.

[@Music-mv9et]

Finally, someone explained it in simple words. Thanks.

[@BincaIsland]

You're AMAZING! Thank you! A lifetime of confusion and you just cleared it all up!

[@paolovolante]

The half diminished chord is mainly used in the minor II-V-I as II chord. e.g. Dm7(b5) - G7 - Cm

[@allxtarmusic]

Quality videos my friend! Amazing lessons

[@spacepodi]

I’ve watched a few of your videos this week. Thank You, they are the clearest and most useful I have yet come across. It’s all starting to make more over all sense now. Good stuff.

[@vuvoisacodo2603]

One of the best tutorial about diminished.. Next augmented what is function..

[@thomasmartinscott]

Not to throw in more confusion, but to open some new doors, a dim chord is also a 7b9 chord. (Actually, 2 different 7b9 chords.) The shape at 3:24 on strings 1,2&3 is Eb7 with the E on string 4 being the b9. On Strings 2,3&4, its an F#7 with the G on string 1 being the b9. Seeing it that way opened a lot of new soloing ideas for me. I hope it does for you or someone else on here, too. ( BTW, I watch ALOT of these kinds of videos. You are, by far, the best "teacher" I've seen on you tube! )

[@afi6061]

Super helpful! I've had so many of those questions! Thanks.

[@DancingStringsGuitar]

Thank you super much. This was much easier than trying to decipher mixed up shapes on a guitar neck diagram.

[@tcoakley2265]

Good stuff - first time I've heard diminished chords explained in a simple, easy to understand way.

[@ultrahighgain412]

The difference between these two chords has puzzled me for years. Great lesson!

[@mikeridesbikesplaces]

Im so glad that Mike Rowes son teaches us guitar. What a good dude

[@stompcity4085]

Wonderful...you are the best music teacher I have ever seen or heard. 🎤🎶🎸

[@lalirai8983]

Thnx a lot for giving such an easy way to know about diminished chord....... great

[@timcarm]

Fantastic video. I'm trying to learn the solo in Robin Ford's Help the Poor which seems to be a diminshed. Your vid helped explain!

[@VeeinBerkeley]

You are a Ace teacher. Really wonderful clips, and very appreciated

[@autogestionmusical]

Best explanation I ‘ve found so far

[@dustinhodges9987]

Such a good explanation. Thanks for making it simple

[@ivonsmith4255]

Love ypur teaching work Jake. Always clear. Thanks. I always thought the terminology was: Dim 1 b3 b5 (this being the proper dim chord)!? Half dim 1 b3 b5 b7 Dim7th. 1 b3 b5 bb7. So there are 3 types of chords not just 2. ???

[@fakestreamedia5309]

Thank you, yes a video explaining functionality would be great!

[@bobyk87]

You really helped me out now. Now I see why the full diminished sunds so un-diatonic. I should use the half diminished (or minor 7). Thanks a lot.

[@rudeboysosh]

You’re an excellent teacher. Love your channel. Thank you so much

[@alejandrotorres9193]

Mike Shinoda delivers again. Thanks!

[@Pwecko]

Thanks for that. I always wondered why the diminished 7th chord sounded so bad when going through all the chords derived from a scale. It should have been a half diminished. I've often seen the m7flat5 in jazz music but didn't know it was also called a half diminished. You've cleared things up for me. Thanks again. I picked up my guitar for the first time in about three years yesterday after watching a few of your videos. I've got arthritis in my hands now, so it's a bit painful to play (and for others to listen to) but you gave me some inspiration.

[@surgeeo1406]

Thanks! I already really liked th m7 b5, for how more adequate it sounds, but I was ready to follow through with the full dim, just cause the internet says everything and nothing. You just cleared it up. For reference, I'm getting serious with accompaniment now, making my chord tabs for every key, you know.

[@ultrahighgain412]

Great lesson. You’ve answered some very specific questions regarding music theory that have bugged me for years.

[@angryfrenchduck]

This is exactly what I needed to understand diminished chords, thank you Jake, and merry Christmas 🍻

[@lewiscano1350]

Your videos are great man, thank you much! Would be great to see a video where you explain the different applications between and for all these chords.

[@marianoturienzo6974]

Thank you for teaching music your channel it s great very clear way to teach Cheers from California Thanks a lot!

[@TheClassicalSauce]

Best teacher on KZbin. And yes, much better than beato. Love rick, you’re better.

[@AlessandroZir]

thank you, sensible and very musical explanation which people can retain and use creativelly!! ❤️❤️

[@backpackerway8533]

Excellent mate excellent ! Fortunaly , at the end you add this precision, which makes sense to everything to me " Half Dim will be usefull on a major key !!!! // Full dim chord are in use for Minor Key " Ahhhhh ! That s the big point cause i was starting now to get confused ! Thajks very much for this lesson, so clear ! God bless

[@mrlarrybobjr]

Ok cool. I was working out fingerings myself for major Seventh chords and I moved my thumb a half step and recognize the sound. It was a minor seven flat five. I went to my local music shop and was talking to the guitar gurus. I play finger style guitar and was asking them why nobody showed this simple shape for a minor 7flat five. The guys at the shop didn’t know what I was talking about and try to argue with me. I was like OK wow. Not only does it give me a nice half diminished chord. I also get my root on the low 6 E string. Awesome. I’ve watched many videos on this subject and you were the first I found that shows the shape I found. Oh I am referring to your example 4minutes 30 seconds. Love it.

[@paulpacifico]

I've just discovered your channel, everything is very visual and you make things clear and simple. I love your theory videos man !

[@ale9507]

Spectacular lesson. This was incredibly concisely explained. Well done.

[@modofino1556]

Also, the Half Diminished Chord (G#m7b5) have the same notes of Bm6, it's a inversion of that chord.

[@lukeh7776]

That clears things up nicely. Thanks!

[@adhitandroid667]

Brilliant deconstruction. I'm hoping you can do something like this for Augmented chords.

[@xeneize1793]

Jake- Fantastic lesson as always. Thank you

[@bykers81]

I am both very confused and also clear headed! Just getting into theory stuff and I love patterns etc. This is frustrating because you make it all sound sooo clear then I get to a bit that confuses me! Lol. Great video many thanks.

[@jsr9703]

You deserve a Noble prize for this content:D

[@andrejz8954]

Thanks for this lesson. Been using half dim and full dim shapes and chords for a while now and didn't really know the difference until now. Great lesson, you should do the same for augmented stuff, which is a concept even further from my up-to-date knowledge :) Thanks!

[@warpig2786]

diminished triad Root - 3rd - 5b (advance 3 frets for that 5th flat) full = walk a minor 3rd from the last note of the diminished triad half = major 3rd from the last note of the diminished triad got it BO$$.

[@darrenrose4673]

That really cleared up how to find the 7th chord in a key!

[@aaronkozak7144]

There’s another diminished chord. The Diminished Major 7th chord. 1-b3-b5-7

[@dhruv568]

Best channel to learn theory

[@DejiAdenuga]

now this made soooo much sense. Thank you !

[@Farvadude]

4:35 - 4:42 i love how you couldn't resist resolving that first diminished chord before you moved on to demonstrate the next one. you just HAD to sneak that quick little resolution in there! it's amazing how much these sounds affect our behavior in addition to just our feelings.

[@lakejizzio7777]

It wasn't a resolution...

[@ShinyFlakesShinyFlakes]

You’ll probably enjoy the book Reverberation by Keith Blanchard

[@petrkilometr319]

Finally a clear explanation. Thanks!

[@aptelbruno8316]

Simple and brilliant - Thank you mille fois Jake !

[@brianconnolly3267]

You are a phenomenal teacher. Thank you so much.

[@GuitarMetalHeadFrance]

you are amazing young man , you explain very good things , chords progression , Scales that i work in a book and modes and i search and find more details in your videos , intervals too on each strings , i absolutely subscribe and you are in my main guitar KZbin channels best explainers , Big Up !!! your style is very nice and calm and pleasant ,Super !!! Hails From France

[@PsychedelicChameleon]

Hi Jake, thank you for this video! I have a question: These chords are called "diminished". What are they "diminished" from, and what exactly is the diminished part? Maybe a regular 7th chord that has a note lowered?

[@untitledundefined]

Yep, that cleared it up for me. Thanks!

[@laurentaltare9429]

Really clear ! Like all your lessons. Thanks a lot for such a fantastic work 👍

[@sunavila]

Good explanation. Thanks Jake.

[@JamesKingsilentlife]

Excellent lesson! I struggled at first with you being half-hidden behind your anti-pop screen, but I'm glad to have persevered!

[@deadwing7180]

You explain everything really well, hope to see you grow a lot!

[@SignalsMusicStudio]

Thank you!

[@matthewkanter7585]

Thank you !! Way to cut through the ( my ) confusion

[@seiph80]

Okay, after watching so many of your awesome videos... I clicked the button!

[@kissofdeathisraja]

Love your on point teaching!

[@zac3392]

Well if u think of ur vii as an upside down teepee and 2 totem poles, and then flatten it with a steamroller, you end up with a fully demolished half clutched Delorean... or u may want to double flat the flattened phrygian fritter, (but only if ur frygian guitar has a friggin' good tone). This is what we in the industry sometimes call a 7 splattered, smothered, and covered minor... and of course the most important rule about minors.... Never, EVER, under any circumstance, sell them alcohol... edit: not making fun of Jake's awesome lessons, just having fun with people that seem to overthink this stuff...

[@Josh-it6uy]

please stop coming to this website

[@thomasc9870]

You are a phenomenal guitar teacher

[@ebeneezergoode9773]

This guy is very cool , he's helping me so much.

[@Papa-Dima77]

damn that was helpful, especially that half dim flat 5 in diatonic I was very confused and now thanks to you sir its clear!

[@saadshah7857]

Makes sense, thanks for sharing!