5132 / 18210 · Workshop 34 — “Invitation”: Minor-Key Gravity, Descending Bass, Dominant Chains, and Hearing Long Harmonic Sentences← prev⊞ allnext →
34.40Do not insert diminished chords randomly
A diminished chord is most convincing when it:
- carries a chromatic bass note
- leads a voice by semitone
- substitutes for dominant ♭9
- creates a clear destination
Otherwise it can sound ornamental.