The A diminished chord (Adim) is made of the notes A, C and Eb. It is built from the root A with a minor third and a diminished fifth.
The diminished chord is unstable and tense: it is mostly used as a passing chord between two other chords.
A diminished
Notes: A – C – Eb
Guitar — positions on the neck
Piano — root position and inversions
Fingerings and positions
On guitar, this chord can be played in 4 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): x0121x. On piano, the right hand plays 3 notes, in root position or in an inversion.
Notes and intervals
Note
Interval
A
root
C
minor third
Eb
diminished fifth
In which keys? The A diminished chord is the vii° of Bb major and the ii° of G minor.
The notes of the A diminished chord (Adim) are A, C and Eb.
How do you play the A diminished chord on guitar?
On guitar, this chord can be played in 4 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): x0121x.
How is the A diminished chord built?
The A diminished chord (Adim) is made of the notes A, C and Eb. It is built from the root A with a minor third and a diminished fifth.