In this guitar lesson we look at the jazz scheme concept of using a diminished chord as a 7b9 chord. You should doubtless check out the jazz lesson series on the web site if you are getting wedged with the concepts here – and there are clarification about this lesson there too – and I reckon it is simpler to read some of this stuff than take note – helps you know it nearer, imho. It’s kind of a chord substitution (you’ll often see it called that) but I reckon it is more just using a shape a different way, it’s not really a substitution in the proper sense of the word… more on the web site about that!Taught by Justin Sandercoe. Full support at the justinguitar web site where you will find hundreds of lessons on a wide range of subjects, and all the scales and chords that you will ever need! There is a fantastic forum too to get help, no matter what the problem. And it is all really free, no bull. No try out lessons, no memberships, no free ebook. Just tons of fantastic lessons 
To get help with this lesson (and for further info and tabs), find the Lesson ID in the video title (like ST-667 or whatever) and then look it up on the Lesson Index page of justinguitar.com www.justinguitar.com Have fun .
You are the greatest teacher ever. Enough said.
Thank you.
Excellent knowledge video about guitar.
Thank you for sharing.
if the diminished chord functions as many other chords, does that also mean that it could resolve to a chord, other than Cmaj7?
fantastic vid, justin! thanks!! very helpful!
Thanks man! Your videos are the bomb! You got me playing in 5 seconds!
@JustinSandercoe thank you for uploading these videos
you look fater.
you have sport!
its an order
Justin-Superb lessons and beautifuly clarified. Your chord lessons have really helped with my songwriting by giving me lots of new thoughts. Its been fun making music again and I really wanted to send a sincere thank you. Take care and keep these incredible lessons coming! – Charles
some lovely voicings from 4:30 onwards. awesome vid. thanks
My teacher taught me this a few weeks ago and I felt like such a genius for knowing this substitution. Now you’ve place it on the internet for everyone to know, thanks a lot!
Just kidding, Justin, you’re an incredible guy for teaching the planet for free. Keep it up! And please keep the jazz lessons coming!
Nice lesson
Excellent video. The diminished chord in C (B – D – F – Ab) would be very nearly identical to the G7b9 (G – B – D – F – Ab). So you’re really not recreating the wheel with this chord, just skipping the root. Brilliant scheme. It’s given me a new insight to B dim that I can use.
Very nice jazz lesson. Can’t wait for more
@JustinSandercoe , ahhh its alright mate dw i was just wondering thats all , since you said that its made more sense to me now , since im like heavy into scheme i have to question everything haha i shouldnt tho , but mate your lessons are fantastic though !
@joesatriani1200rulez ok – when I say diminished in a jazz context I means A diminished 7th chord. It’s a symetrical chord, made up of copy minor 3rd intervals – so any note is the root note.
The 7th chord in C major is a B dim triad or a B min 7 b5 chord – which is none of the other chords. We’re outside the diatonic (of the key) chords here.
Most often in jazz if somebody says diminished they mean diminshed 7th, but I should have made myself clearer.
Ok guys im gunna clarify it better , the 7th in C major is Bdim now when he’s showing the examples he plays a Bdim chord but also calls it Fdim , Ddim and G#dim now then how can it be Fdim G#dim or Ddim when that chord is the 7th in C and named Bdim so how can it be F G# or D
John Frusciante uses these diminished chords in a very cool way in Road Trippin’ .
@JustinSandercoe I reckon joesatriani1200rulez is concerned that the clarification being used are outside of the diatonic scale, the only diatonic diminished chord in C major is Bdim. But of course G7b9 already has a non diatonic note in it.
Cool! Thank you!
@morrissteven yep, it’s a cool trick that – I chat about that on my web page.
Pat Martino had a really cool essay on his website called the “Nature of the Guitar” that talked about this very concept (among other things). Incidentally, if you lower any one of the four clarification in a diminished chord that lowerd note will become the root of the dominant 5– which you showed at the beginning with your thumb on the root turning into your pinky on the (sharp) root transforming your dominant into a diminished. Thanks for this!
fantastic lesson justin! ignore the haters. thanks mate!