Banjo B♭dim chord (Open D)B♭ diminished on the 5-string banjo: 2 4 4 2, and 2 more shapes

Bbdim chord chart for 5-string banjo in Open D tuning: 2 4 4 2, first position, with the short 5th string marked
Bbdim (Bb diminished) on the 5-string banjo, Open D: 2 4 4 2, string 4 to string 1. Fingers are numbered on the dots; copper marks the root; the green ring on the left is the 5th string, solid when it’s in the chord.

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 2 4 4 2 (first position)

  1. String 4 (D): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), F♭
  2. String 3 (F♯): 4th fret, ring finger, B♭
  3. String 2 (A): 4th fret, little finger, D♭
  4. String 1 (D): 2nd fret, index finger (barre), F♭
  5. String 5, the short f♯: open, F♯, not in the chord

Sounds: F♭ B♭ D♭ F♭  ·  B♭dim is B♭, D♭, F♭ (1 · ♭3 · ♭5)

Found in: B major (vii°), F♯ mixolydian (iii°), C♯ dorian (vi°), G♯ minor (ii°)

The 5th string: the short f♯ adds the ♭6 over B♭dim, a colour rather than a clash.

Open D tuning: f♯DF♯AD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.

Hear it in the app ›

The link can’t set the tuning: the app starts in open G. Choose Open D once in its Settings and it remembers.

More B♭dim shapes

  1. 7fr2113f♯B♭D♭F♭B♭8 7 7 8
    7fr
  2. 10fr2143f♯D♭F♭B♭D♭11 10 13 11
    10fr

Other B♭ chords in Open D

B♭B♭mB♭7B♭m7B♭maj7B♭6B♭sus4B♭sus2B♭dimB♭aug

Other diminished chords

GdimAdimDdimCdimBdimEdimFdimB♭dim

B♭dim in other tunings

Open GDouble CSawmillC Tuning

All Open D banjo chords · Printable chart (PDF) · How to tune · The app