Diminished chords = 0 chords

[forw]

hey,
does anyone know that?

C dim = Cm b5 = C 0

where does the 0 in the chord symbol come from? same question about half diminished chords..(crossed out 0)

forw

[BertKoor]

The symbol is not a simple zero, but a zero in superscript. Like used in degrees Celcius. It's present in unicode and can be hard to type, so I copied it from the Wikipedia article about diminished chords: °.

What the origins are: good question... Trace back the oldest usage (reportedly before the "Real Book" which comes from Berkely ca 1970) and then you might find an explanation because somebody must have taught it. I always just taken it for granted.

[datroof]

the "Real Book" which comes from Berkely ca 1970

It (the Real Book) came from Berklee in Boston. The story I've always heard is that it started with student charts from one of Steve Swallow's theory classes.

I hate the superscript zero and slash-zero notation for diminished and half-diminished chords. I never use it and discourage others from using it, if for no other reason than legibility - it's too easy to mistake it for something else, like a poorly drawn triangle symbol for a Major chord (which I also dislike and discourage).

[forw]

thanks alot, guys!!

[Tricky-Loops]

If they use a "+" for augmented chords, they should label a diminished chord with a "-". Would be more logical...

[MadBrain]

If they use a "+" for augmented chords, they should label a diminished chord with a "-". Would be more logical...

"-" is already used for minor, as an alternative to "m" (by roughly the same people who use triangles for maj7). Personally I'm not opposed to these symbols, though they don't translate too well into ascii (where I use more traditional symbols like m7b5, dim7, m9b5, maj7 etc).

[jancivil]

there are conventions which go with styles. it's all good as far as I'm concerned unless something is opaque, which would tend to indicate confusion at the source.

for example iiº is efficient in terms of space to indicate meaning for say a part-writing exercise. It [º on that degree] will be redundant in minor anyway, but give that in a major key and it is absolutely clear to everyone in the class. I don't know if I ever experienced that symbol next to a letter name for a chord, though. I wouldn't mix conventions.

I don't see at all well but it strikes me funny someone mistaking ∆ for ø; besides, the latter already includes the information '[minor] seventh'. I often type things like Cm^7 and I expect people to get it, it seems intuitive enough.

[datroof]

If they use a "+" for augmented chords, they should label a diminished chord with a "-". Would be more logical...

"-" is already used for minor, as an alternative to "m" (by roughly the same people who use triangles for maj7). Personally I'm not opposed to these symbols, though they don't translate too well into ascii (where I use more traditional symbols like m7b5, dim7, m9b5, maj7 etc).

Not just that, but a lot of lead sheets and other charts I've encountered have been photocopied god knows how many times, written on, layers of tape, coffee stains, etc. You name it. These little icons/symbols often end up as vague little blobs. They don't hold up as well in 'real world' conditions as the traditional symbols you mention.

[BertKoor]

It just occurred to me, ° is the usual symbol for Degrees.
And the word Degraded is somewhat related to Diminished with a bit of fantasy.

[BachRules]

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