What does it mean when a chord is diminished?
Ah, diminished chords. I knew this question was going to come up eventually. Have a seat.
You see, after a major chord has flourished for a while, it begins to lose its luster. It’s just not as shiny as it was when it was new! And it starts to get a little soft, particularly around the 3 and 5. Eventually of course, the 3 and 5 each slip completely down a half step, and we shake our heads and say the chord is half diminished.
It is still strong though, never doubt it! Its character has just changed. It moves with more nuance, has greater gravitas and I believe, a greater appreciation for the chords and notes around it, generally speaking.
Eventually it’s 7 also flattens out, and we say that it is completely diminished. It certainly looks and sounds different than it did when it was a sprightly young major chord, but it has attained a more profound way of communicating its essence that it ever would have been able to, had it not reached this certain level of maturity.
Respect your diminished chords!
They have been around the block, and can show you a thing or two.
Diminished chords need a place to go
to prove they’re not just there for show.
For instance, take C7 diminished-
Sounds kind of weird? a bit “unfinished”?
Just sharpen up 3, 5 and 7
you’ll die and think you’ve gone to heaven
’cause now you’ve make a moving part
of musical arrangement art.
