Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is D–F–B?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
All tones of Bdim are present; the D note is lowest (1st inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | sounding |
| ♭3 | D | sounding |
| ♭5 | F | sounding |
root, ♭3, and 6th of Dm6 sound; it reads as Dm6 with the A (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | sounding |
| ♭3 | F | sounding |
| 5 | A | omitted |
| 6 | B | sounding |
3rd, ♭7, and ♭9 of D♭7♭9 sound; it reads as D♭7♭9 with the D♭ (1) and A♭ (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | D♭ | omitted |
| 3 | F | sounding |
| 5 | A♭ | omitted |
| ♭7 | C♭ | sounding |
| ♭9 | E♭♭ | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not Bdim7: a diminished 7th B chord needs A♭ as its ♭♭7 — A♭ is absent.
Not Ddim7: a diminished 7th D chord needs A♭ as its ♭5 — A♭ is absent.
Not Fdim7: a diminished 7th F chord needs A♭ as its ♭3 — A♭ is absent.
Not Bm7♭5: a half diminished B chord needs A as its ♭7 — A is absent.
Not Bdim(maj7): a diminished major 7th B chord needs A♯ as its 7th — A♯ is absent.
How these notes relate
D, F, and B is a voicing of Dm6 with the A (5th) left out.
Add A♭ (its ♭♭7) and the set reads as Bdim7.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {2, 5, 11}
- Normal order
- [11,2,5]
- Prime form
- [0,3,6]
- Interval vector
- <002001>
- Forte set class
- 3-10
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