Abdim Chord (Ab diminished) on Guitar
Abdim (Ab diminished) is made of the notes Ab – Cb – Ebb. The easiest guitar fingering is 42010x (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It needs 3 fingers and no barre.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
How to play Abdim
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 4 (Ab).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 2 (Cb).
- Play the 4th string (D) open (Ebb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 1 (Ab).
- Play the 2nd string (B) open (Cb).
- Do not play the 1st string (high e).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 4 | Ab | R |
| 5th string (A) | 2 | Cb | b3 |
| 4th string (D) | 0 (open) | Ebb | b5 |
| 3rd string (G) | 1 | Ab | R |
| 2nd string (B) | 0 (open) | Cb | b3 |
| 1st string (high e) | x (mute) | - |
What is a Ab diminished chord?
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: root, minor third and diminished (flat) fifth.
Notes and formula. Abdim contains Ab, Cb, Ebb. Counted from the root Ab, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), b5 (diminished 5th). It is also written G#dim; the two names sound identical and the name used depends on the key of the song.
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 Abdim
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 Abdim
Abdim 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
Abdim chord FAQ
What notes are in a Abdim chord?
Abdim (Ab diminished) contains the notes Ab, Cb, Ebb. The formula is R–b3–b5 relative to the root Ab.
How do you play Abdim on guitar?
The most common shape for Abdim is 42010x, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It needs 3 fingers and no barre.
Is Abdim an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It needs 3 fingers and no barre.
Is Abdim the same as G#dim?
Yes. Ab and G# are enharmonic: they are the same pitch with different names, so Abdim and G#dim sound identical on guitar. The name used depends on the key of the song.
Which keys contain Abdim?
Abdim is a diatonic chord in A major (vii°), F# minor (ii°).
Get one useful guitar tip a week
New chord guides, practice ideas and app updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.