Understanding Diminished Harmony

The Complete Guide to Diminished Chords, Scales, and Modulations

What you'll learn

Constructing diminished and half-diminished chords

Using diminished 7th chords for substitutions and modulations

Applying diminished scales (whole-half and half-whole) in improvisation

Recognizing diminished harmony in classical and romantic repertoire

Creating tension and release in compositions and arrangements

Building smooth (or dramatic) modulations using diminished chords

Applying diminished passing chords in tonal progressions

Altering chords into and out of diminished shapes

Requirements

Basic understanding of major and minor chords

Intermediate level of piano theory

Sufficient time to practice and study this material

Description

Unlock the mystery of diminished harmony and learn how to use it to add drama, tension, and motion to your music. Diminished chords are some of the most powerful—and misunderstood—sounds in Western music. From haunting classical works to lush film scores and jazz improvisation, diminished harmony opens the door to advanced modulations, unexpected chord substitutions, and expressive color.In this course, you’ll learn:The building blocks of diminished and half-diminished chordsHow diminished 7th chords function and why they’re so flexiblePractical substitutions that transform a simple progression into something cinematicHow diminished scales (whole-half and half-whole) provide a roadmap for improvisation and compositionResolution patterns that let you move effortlessly between keysHow great composers—from Beethoven to Debussy—used diminished harmony to create unforgettable musicThrough clear explanations, real musical examples, and guided exercises, you’ll not only understand diminished harmony, but also apply it directly in your own compositions, arrangements, or improvisations. Whether you’re a songwriter looking for new colors, a pianist or guitarist exploring advanced chords, or a composer interested in film and concert music, this course will give you the tools to confidently integrate diminished harmony into your creative work. By the end, you’ll feel comfortable turning these “scary” chords into one of your strongest and most versatile musical resources.

Overview

Section 1: The Classes

Lecture 1 What is a Diminished Chord?

Lecture 2 Diminished 7th Chords

Lecture 3 Diminished Substitutions

Lecture 4 The Whole-Half Diminished Scale

Lecture 5 The Half-Whole Diminished Scale

Lecture 6 Extracting Harmony From The Half-Whole Diminished Scale

Lecture 7 Diminished Chord Resolutions

Lecture 8 Diminished Modulations

Lecture 9 Diminished in Late Classical & Romantic Harmony

Lecture 10 Diminished Passing Chords

Lecture 11 Minor 7 Flat 5 Chords

Lecture 12 Altering Chords TO or FROM Diminished

Lecture 13 Unrelated Diminished Chords

Lecture 14 Diminished Chord Exercise

Section 2: Bonus Video

Lecture 15 Bonus Video

Intermediate to advanced piano players, guitarists, and composers,Songwriters looking to expand their harmonic palette,Musicians interested in film scoring, classical, or jazz harmony,Anyone who understands major/minor chords but feels “lost” when diminished harmony comes up,Improvisers wanting to add tension, modulation tricks, and expressive movement