Diminished Fifth

Definition

A diminished fifth is an interval consisting of six half steps (or three whole steps). It is also known as a tritone because it divides an octave into three equal parts.

Related terms

Perfect Fifth: An interval consisting of seven half steps (or four whole steps). It has a stable and consonant sound.

Augmented Fourth: Another name for the same interval as diminished fifth. It is called augmented fourth because it adds one half step to a perfect fourth.

Enharmonic Equivalent: Two different notations for the same pitch, such as C# and Db.