B♭ diminished chord on ukulele (B♭dim)

B♭dim is B♭, D♭ and F♭. The easiest shape is 3-1-0-1. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.

3-1-0-1 · open · easy

Notes: B♭ · D♭ · F♭
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
First shape: 3-1-0-1

How to play B♭dim on ukulele

Shape 1, 3-1-0-1, reading from the G string on the left:

D♭: index finger, 1st fret of the C string.
B♭: middle finger, 1st fret of the A string.
B♭: ring finger, 3rd fret of the G string.
Leave the E string open: F♭.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play B♭dim

6-4-6-4: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
9-10-9-7: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Changing from B♭dim to the chords around it

The chords B♭dim usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

B (leads up a half step): B♭dim (3-1-0-1) to B (4-3-2-2): move the index finger to the E string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. B on ukulele
Bm (leads up a half step): B♭dim (3-1-0-1) to Bm (4-2-2-2): move the index finger to the C string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Bm on ukulele
E♭m (iii in B major): B♭dim (3-1-0-1) to E♭m (3-3-2-1): your ring finger stays put, the index finger goes to the A string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the E string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the C string, 3rd fret. B♭ carries over from one chord to the other. E♭m on ukulele

B♭dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. All 3 notes of B♭dim fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting B♭dim under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: B♭, D♭, F♭, B♭. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 6-4-6-4 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written A♯dim, it's the same chord with the same frets.

B♭dim in context

B♭dim on guitar and piano

The same notes on another instrument: B♭dim on guitar and B♭dim on piano. This page puts all three side by side.

Close to B♭dim

Other diminished chords

B♭dim on ukulele: questions

What notes are in B♭dim on ukulele?

B♭, D♭ and F♭. In the 3-1-0-1 shape the strings play B♭ (G string), D♭ (C string), F♭ (E string, open) and B♭ (A string), so B♭ is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play B♭dim on ukulele?

3-1-0-1, shape 1 above. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is B♭dim a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 3-1-0-1 needs no barre.

Which string does B♭dim start on?

In the 3-1-0-1 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 3rd fret, which is B♭, the root.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside B♭dim. Updated September 2026.