Yes, my preferred way of looking at chords is superimposed intervals. The four chord qualities (major, minor, augmented, diminished) are built like: - Diminish

Yes, my preferred way of looking at chords is superimposed intervals. The four chord qualities (major, minor, augmented, diminished) are built like: - Diminished: Minor Third + Minor Third - Minor: Minor 3rd + Major Third - Major: Major 3rd + Minor Third - Augmented: Major Third + Major Third With the intervals being between the tonic and third, third and fifth. So for your example, that would be A, C, Eb as a diminished triad.