A diminished chord (Adim)

A diminished is a 3-note diminished chord: A – C – E♭. It sounds unstable and tense. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

NotesA – C – E♭
Formula1 – ♭3 – ♭5
SymbolAdim · A° · Am♭5
TypeDiminished chord

A diminished on guitar

Open position
Fret 7 (D shape)

How to place your fingers (open position)

Finger 1 (index finger) on fret 1 of the 4th string (D).
Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 2 of the 3rd string (G).
Place finger 2 (middle) at fret 1 on string 2 (B).
The 5th string is played open.
Do not play the 6th and 1st strings: strum from the 5th string.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (A). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

A diminished on piano

In root position, play A – C – E♭ from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (A) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

First inversion: C – E♭ – A
Second inversion: E♭ – A – C

A diminished on ukulele

Open position
From fret 6

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of A diminished

A1 · root
C♭3 · minor third
E♭♭5 · diminished fifth

It's the seventh degree of the major scale and works as a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart.

Progressions with Adim

A leading tone that resolves: vii° – I

Adim is the seventh degree of B♭ major and leads to B♭.

Passing chord: I – ♯i° – ii

It climbs by half steps between two chords a whole step apart.

Which keys contain A diminished?

Adim belongs to 2 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).

Key	Degree
B♭ major	vii°
G natural minor	ii°

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A diminished chord?

A diminished (Adim) has 3 notes: A (root), C (minor third), E♭ (diminished fifth).

How do you play A diminished on guitar?

The easiest shape is in open position: x 0 1 2 1 x (from the 6th to the 1st string). Finger 1 (index) on fret 1 of the 4th string (D). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 2 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 1 of the 2nd string (B). Play the 5th string open. Don't play the 6th or 1st strings: strum from the 5th.

How do you write A diminished in chord notation?

It is written Adim; you will also see A° or Am♭5. Letter-name chord notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A, and B for the notes.

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