Adim Chord (A diminished) on Guitar
Adim (A diminished) is made of the notes A – C – Eb. The easiest guitar fingering is x0121x (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
How to play Adim
- Play the 5th string (A) open (A).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 1 (Eb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 2 (A).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 1 (C).
- Do not play the 6th string (low E).
- Do not play the 1st string (high e).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | x (mute) | - | |
| 5th string (A) | 0 (open) | A | R |
| 4th string (D) | 1 | Eb | b5 |
| 3rd string (G) | 2 | A | R |
| 2nd string (B) | 1 | C | b3 |
| 1st string (high e) | x (mute) | - |
What is a A diminished chord?
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: root, minor third and diminished (flat) fifth.
Notes and formula. Adim contains A, C, Eb. Counted from the root A, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), b5 (diminished 5th).
Sound. Tense, unstable and spooky. It sounds like it must move somewhere.
Where it is used. Used as a passing chord between two diatonic chords, as in a movie suspense cue, and in jazz and classical music.
Tips for playing Adim
Because the chord is symmetrical, the same shape moved up three frets gives the same notes in a different order.
Common mistake: Leaving the chord hanging. Diminished chords almost always resolve up a half step.
Keys that contain Adim
Adim is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Related chords
Adim chord FAQ
What notes are in a Adim chord?
Adim (A diminished) contains the notes A, C, Eb. The formula is R–b3–b5 relative to the root A.
How do you play Adim on guitar?
The most common shape for Adim is x0121x, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is Adim an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Which keys contain Adim?
Adim is a diatonic chord in Bb major (vii°), G minor (ii°).
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