Overview
There are many positions (ways, variants etc.) to play the B diminished mandolin chord.
In this article you can find the most common mandolin chord positions – displayed on the slideshow above, fingered for your convenience. To help you understand how to play them, I have included step-by-step instructions, describing where to place each finger on the mandolin fret-board and what note this will produce. Finally, the article includes a chord chart with all possible mandolin chord positions for future reference, feel free to print it.
What is a B diminished (Cdim) chord?
The Bdim is a triad chord, i.e. it consists of three notes as following:
If you need a blank sheet paper to write it down in order to understand it, you can download one from theMandolinTuner free blank music paper sheet.
First Position – Bdim/I (4-0-2-1)
tabstave notation=true tablature=true time=4/4 strings=4 tuning=E/5,A/4,D/4,G/3
notes :w (4/4.0/3.2/2.1/1) =:: :q 4/4 0/3 2/2 1/1=|=
This is how to play it on the mandolin
option strings=4
show frets=4 string=4 text=B
show frets=0 string=3 text=D
show frets=2 string=2 text=B
show frets=1 string=1 text=F
option strings=4
show frets=4 string=4 text=4
show frets=0 string=3 text=0
show frets=2 string=2 text=2
show frets=1 string=1 text=1
Second Position – Bdim/II (4-3-5-1)
In standard notation, it looks like this (press the play button to hear it):
tabstave notation=true tablature=false
notes (B/3.F/4.D/5.F/5)=::B/3 F/4 D/5 F/5=|=
This is how to play it on the mandolin
option strings=4
show frets=4 string=4 text=B
show frets=3 string=3 text=F
show frets=5 string=2 text=D
show frets=1 string=1 text=F
option strings=4
show frets=4 string=4 text=3
show frets=3 string=3 text=2
show frets=5 string=2 text=4
show frets=1 string=1 text=1
Check the Chord Chart for Bdim to see all the positions
Go ahead and experiment!
How to Practice chords on the mandolin
There are many good articles here at theMandolinTuner for practicing chords. I suggest you start with:
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Ok, it is now time to practice. Grab your mandolin and try to play these chord variants now, it is easy, just follow the instructions!
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