How to use the DIMINISHED CHORD (and fix your boring progressions!)

▶TABS ON PATREON◀ The diminished chord is extremely versatile and has some magical qualities that we're exploring in this video. How & when to use it, how to play them and why they are awesome.
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▶GUITAR◀
Gibson 1959 ES-335 VOS, Historic Burst, 2016.
▶AMP◀
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Hi, my name is Paul Davids! I am a guitar player, teacher, producer, and overall music enthusiast from the Netherlands! I try to inspire people from all over the world with my videos, here on KZbin.
If you want to know more about me, check out PaulDavidsGuit... or check out my guitar courses at: learnpracticep...
Thank you for watching!
Paul
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[@PaulDavids]

Champs! What should we discuss next?! What would you love to see a video about?

[@alexandervanzyl4299]

Surely amp modelling

[@ashutoshsrivastava8661]

Modern guitar songs... You know polyphia and stuff

[@jamiurrahman6903]

What scale should we use for the diminished chords, and it would be nice if you give some songs suggestions based on diminished progression. :D

[@LogansLessons]

Slide guitar

[@martydibergi5228]

The genius of Lenny Breau would be awesome

[@AdrianJames28]

That last bit about being able to resolve to 4 different chords has amazing potential to be used as a pivot chord for key changes. Go wherever you want!

[@SmallSoftBread]

These are straight-up Spongebob BGM chords

[@martmakesmusic]

Thank you! I am not the only one that heard that!

[@thBrilliantFool]

Yeah Spongebob invented it. Morons

[@Maodjrodnd]

¿ ?!?!

[@Ramej]

Yes

[@patsaxbeats]

SmallSoftBread b of Gffik📱📱ikj

[@anthonykarlfernandez3220]

I am a stubborn player. Everytime I attempt to understand the dim chord, I always get overwhelmed by the theoretical. You explained it so well. Most lessons I see online focus on WHAT it is, but what we really need to learn is WHEN to use it. Thanks so much!

[@someguy3856]

You're such a delightful man. You are sunshine after rain. We love you.

[@jaydawgg4047]

I’ve watched you on and off the past year or so whenever I’m in the mood to learn. Just looking for lessons but half the time the video starts it’s you. your videos must be popular on here. I’m happy everytime I watch I’m going to follow channel right now. I’ve always been iffy with diminished and this video just now made it make so much more sense to me. Your a great musician and such a good teacher thank you. All I have to do is go on KZbin and it’s free. Thank you for sharing all this knowledge.

[@walnutgroove]

Oh Paul, please, we need a tab of your version of "nobody knows when you're down and out", it sounds lovely.

[@evilotis01]

+1!!!

[@walnutgroove]

​@@mequellyall I was talking about the embellishments, not the chord progression. Obvious on Paul's E chord.

[@evandixon5990]

Agreed. That sounded so goooos

[@evandixon5990]

Goooood*

[@kevinballaPh]

This is the only video that I have to tap the like button. It hooked my attention and learned a new shape for diminished 7 chords. Many thanks

[@BuckwheatPlatypus]

Paul Davids is by far my favorite channel for theory! ❤

[@Keeeeeeeeeeeev1]

Thank you for this video! I played this chord a decade ago for the first time. It was The Devil on my Shoulder from Billy Talent. I love this song but i didn't know what I was doing. I just played this chord over and over again.

[@earohrmoser]

Paul disregarding the warm sunlight to teach us how to jazz-up our garage jams... that's dedication...

[@jakobmorningstar]

I will be coming back to this video again and again until this is burned into my memory... amazing video, finally understand some ways to use these crazy chords

[@stevewilson7915]

Thanks Paul, I can see you are loving your 335.!!!??? Why wouldn't you. It's amazing. Cheers

[@viniciuscastro4281]

That's the cleanest Les Paul I've ever listened to

[@DressedForDrowning]

Joseph Haydn wrote an entire symphony with only two chords and a diminished chord. Check out his 49th symphony (if I remember well).

[@ElRoquerox]

I’m three years late to this but better late than never! Awesome content from the man himself! 👍🏽

[@oscardolan5626]

amazing video paul, you're a wealth of musical knowledge

[@colaboytje]

Thanks Paul. I couldn't find a usefull and practical explanation about the devil's chord. This helps so much.

[@travisjames8087]

8:45 to 8:50 ahh the Spongebob chords

[@sebastianmunoz2567]

No me aguanté las ganas, y terminé sacando la canción de Bob esponja de memoria 🤣🤣🤣

[@kurtkanina]

always loved the way the diminished chord sounded, but I had no idea that it's so versatile. Awesome video, thanks!

[@zekrar5340]

I need to start playing my guitar again. Diminished is one of my favorite sounds.

[@manuechave1474]

Can't wait to see his Intermediate guitar course!

[@budgetgym]

Great video!! I just can´t stop staring at your guitar, It´s so beautiful and It sounds so nice. Always enjoy your video´s. Keep going!

[@ashutoshsrivastava8661]

I haven't even streamed the whole vid but without any doubt I can say it's going to be beautiful

[@aliagators3360]

Please, more of those types of videos. Really useful stuff and I can inmidietly start using it. Love it!

[@clearlyhazed11]

Paul...you are awesome !!!!! 4 is a good number for me. All your vids are extremely insightful, thoughtful, and most important, easy to learn from, with your charm, entertaining ! Thank you from another guitarist getting closer to the "ah ha moment". I have sent links to your site to many guitarist friends, and I will continue to support you, because of your great work. Thanks for raising the bar for excellence.

[@James-nv1wf]

Imagine figuring all this out yourself many many years ago. Crazy times it is.

[@andrewfrancis7739]

Right? KZbin is damn blessing

[@theboazanema]

1:52 when you realize you knocked your Gibby during a lesson 😂

[@IraMcCully]

Oh yeah I thought for sure there'd be a cut right after so he could check her out.

[@br1alva]

I thought I'd heard that 'diminished' sound before in Rodrigo y Gabriela's 30 de Marzo, and I loved that part, but never knew which chords they were neither gave myself time to transcribe it. Thanks for this video Paul!

[@fret2fret221]

Dude I love this channel! The diminished chords are always so unusual. Beautiful but hard to “deal with”. Thanks for posting. Definitely gonna be implementing this on my videos! Thanks brother!

[@JohnMartin-th9zh]

Dude let me just say thank you. I’m the type of guy who wants to know how to apply certain things. And you explained the application of these chords! Gonna def spice up my acoustic sets!

[@fenderstrat7547]

Just seen your video to normans guitars, very cool paul im glad you were able to have that experience we take that for granted here in the states...love your videos and lessons brother, much love from detroit mi...

[@tomnewman2999]

loving those diminichelled (ma belle) chords

[@brok3nboy]

The sun coming in actually gives the video an interesting feeling when the colors in the guitar shine out

[@johnjacquard863]

Hello, I am a music educater . I really enjoy what you are doing

[@AllmightyMilpil]

Awesome video! Super informative and a great watch. Keep it up, Paul 💪

[@lessnoise2772]

Hi Paul, I enjoyed your video. Well done. Thanks for the help!

[@j.m.8895]

"F-F#-G-G#-A minor, I'm such a good singer" 😂😁

[@itcangetbetter]

You missed the diminished chords

[@MykelObvious]

Would love to see this as a much slower/longer diminished video, please sir!!!!

[@JeromyBranch]

Lol I had to pause to say...at 3:20 you sound just like Stewie Griffin. Beautiful 🎸 and beautiful playing sir! Thank you for the astute explanation and inspiring presentation.

[@peterbotond7759]

Love your videos man! Great explanation and no mumbo jumbo :D

[@franciscoobrequedote911]

Amazing video! Been trying to grab this concept for quite a while and now I finally get it! Thank you so much!

[@austintubale6182]

Thanks! from the bottom of my heart

[@ChristopherC93]

As much as i already know the chords, but i dont play guitar very often anymore. watching ur videos surely pop some light bulbs in my brain heh

[@godislove8740]

We have (almost) the same name. Humble kings! Good lesson.

[@carissastoneham]

So so helpful, thank you... love your teachings

[@spivvo]

Been looking for this, great stuff.. thanks!😊

[@joshuamalezi1547]

After the first verse in Crazy, tuns around by going C, C#dim, Dmin, G7, then back to C for the second verse.

[@nelsonw2096]

Thanks! I definitely now understand these chords better. Much appreciated!

[@leszekwincenciak728]

Another great and inspirational instruction. I would like to hear more on playing over those progressions with dim chords. Thank you.

[@TheInzepoket]

boy, that gibson sounds soo good!

[@Christian.L.Rodgers]

He sings. I hit the like button. The world moves on.

[@joefuller9160]

wow, incredibly helpful! thanks Paul, you are the best?

[@cluelocker]

best explanations on diminished chords I have heard!

[@kilterkaos1]

This is definitely a much-needed lesson! Thanks

[@xGrawk]

Road trippin

[@umgajocomumaguitarra3421]

I think that maybe 80% of portuguese artists use diminished chords in most of their songs, which is amazing imho. Check Miguel Araújo, Virgem suta, os Azeitonas, Samuel Uria or JP Simoes in case you're curious

[@rome8180]

There's also an easy way to play a diminished chord as a barre chord if you're on the low E string. Let's say you wanted to play an A diminished. You'd barre on the 5th fret. Then you'd put your 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the A, your 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the D, and your pinky on the 7th fret of the B. Way more complicated to explain than it is to actually do.

[@theobserver8881]

Awsome！You are a great teacher!

[@JurBols477]

Thanks Paul, great info... I couldn't stop repeating your little diminished blues progression at 6:12 love it!... for next video... more of that stuff, little longer and some explanation would be great!

[@alokkulkarni78]

Super clean tutorial. Thanks a ton:-)

[@nzprojects]

What a lovely Gibson. Looks great for my small hands hehe. Just learning diminished so thanks for the tips 👍

[@cosasDEguitarra]

2:00 it sounds like mccartney's blackbird ascending chords! nice.... I use dim chords just to dominate to a new one, just as it was a V grade and they are so cool for that

[@derekhansen8192]

Paul great lesson. I have been playing for a while now but still have trouble using the diminished scale, or triads to make interesting or compelling melodies. I think a mini series on diminished chords, notes, scales, and soloing would be absolutely awesome. And who better to tackle a difficult topic like this.

[@toto6773]

Awesome lesson!

[@caftech8301]

That was super good. Are you doing the dminished scale video?

[@zzzyxwv]

I was dimished. You augmented me :)

[@Filippo_S]

This is a great songwriting lesson, thanks a lot!

[@ForgottenTupperware]

A perfect example of this is The Lizards by Phish. Trey loves those diminished chords.......willllllson

[@unclebrr8139]

Nothing new for me ;) I simply like your videos, keep on rockin'!

[@radyarayhan4700]

Damn, never thought that dim7 chords were badass, thanks for the lesson. Cheers

[@marcosmonreal]

Thanks Paul!!!!

[@JS-nf1sn]

Awesome video. Thank you.

[@podeveloppements3428]

thx for your explanations !!!! cheers

[@nedim_guitar]

6:10, that lick! 🤤🤓

[@obumbrata2k7]

I loved your video. Although you are already bumping the Gibson... i heard that! :P Hey Paul how about the new Parallel Universe guitars from Fender... and any update from Winter Nam would love to hear your experience and any collabs with other friends / youtubers...

[@kabirprakash]

Bhai hai tu Paul Davids 💝

[@johnnyguitars609]

Very understandable, nice and awesome.

[@joacogasparian1241]

I love your videos, i've learned so much from you! Greetings from Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Sorry 4 my bad english)

[@cactustactics]

mate that was perfect!

[@basdouma]

Hoi Paul Davids, Ik kwam er toevallig aan het eind van de video achter dat je ook Nederlands bent! Mijn Engels is prima, maar aangezien mijn theoretische muziekkennis nog behoorlijk beperkt is kan ik het in het Engels niet zo goed volgen. Maak jij ook video's in het Nederlands? Of kan ik jouw video's bijvoorbeeld in het Nederlands ondertitelen? Groeten Bas

[@petunientopf]

Thank you very much! This was very interesting and useful.

[@lolobuggah2670]

Can you explain the theory behind the #iv dim chord and why it resolves to the I chord?

[@henryssurfshowcase]

Looks impressive, and sounds awesome!..

[@paulstefanowicz3669]

Thank you.

[@bastienle6820]

Super sound and clean lesso....soon

[@rafaelmanatac8399]

mr paul davids do you have a video lesson for whole map of diminished scale?

[@phosphore7991]

Nice explanation i would just add the diminished chords is overused in Gypsy Jazz :)

[@dennissutton3767]

New sub here looking forward to learning. Nice work...thank you

[@Elleon12]

This guy has so much information he is going to explode 😂 I love it!

[@sandyrai4127]

I'm such a Good singer 😂😂Really fun Myan 💙

[@edgardorodriguez3879]

Paul, thank you for this lesson. My diminished music has been Jazzed!

[@petephelan969]

Black bird is a good example

[@HasseC]

Great as always!! Keep it up! :-)

[@saepiumv3813]

I love diminished chords!

[@77joro]

How about a lesson about Satch Boogie?

[@MajdiHabash]

hi paul any chance you can explain the blues lick you played around 6:15 ? thanks

[@aliray1165]

0:37 what the fuckkkkkkk!??! Awesome dude!! 😎

[@ingemyking]

Hi, Just saw this. Great video👍 One question. I normally try to avoid using dim chords all the times, but alternates them with /chords... Ex: F F#dim G E/G# Am... For me It's just a matter of "sound right", but are there any theory saying anything about it, besides feeling......

[@concretecullen]

sub'd, liked and enjoyed. thank you sir.

[@knotwilg3596]

Nerd alert: Continuing on why you'd write a Cdim7 chord as C-Eb-Gb-Bbb The major scale with root Gb looks like this: Gb Ab Bb Cb Db Eb F. There's a weird one in there: Cb, which is equivalent to B. If you'd write down the scale like that, the C is missing from the sequence of letters, the B is there twice, the jump from Bb to B looks a bit narrow and from B to Db looks too wide. For similar reasons, the minor scale with root Gb is: Gb Ab Bbb Cb Db Ebb Fb. Three more "unreal" notes are present: Bbb, Ebb and Fb, which are equivalent to A, D and E. The scale would look like this: Gb Ab A B Db D E. That doesn't look like a scale anymore. Your mileage may very, but music theory prefers an awkward notation like Bbb to an awkward looking scale. So, a minor third from Gb is Bbb, not A. Nerd alert² Another way of looking at it is that, historically speaking, or naturally speaking, if you wish, A and Bbb aren't really equivalent. A is the sixth note from C, making a "just interval" of 5/3. Bbb is a stack of 3 minor third intervals, which is (6/5)^3. These numbers are close, but not equal (1,6666 and 1,728). On the fretted guitar, however, (or the piano, in fact most modern instruments) small adjustments per half note ensure that a sixth or a stack of minor thirds are effectively the same. We've given up on just intervals but gained a lot in harmony. Bbb gives us that glimpse of the history of music (theory). And if you're like me, your frustration when tuning your guitar by ear, in particular when tuning the B-string on the G-string, can be explained by this very phenomenon.