A diminished chord
- Ala
- Cdo
- Ebmib
Adim chord notes
A diminished stacks two minor thirds, three semitones and then three, so its top note is a diminished fifth above the root. It sounds tense and unstable, and Adim usually passes quickly to a chord a semitone up.
| Note | Interval from the root | Semitones |
|---|---|---|
| Ala | Root1 | 0 |
| Cdo | Minor thirdb3 | 3 |
| Ebmib | Diminished fifthb5 | 6 |
Adim chord inversions
An inversion plays the same notes with a different one at the bottom. Using Adim's inversions keeps your hand close to the next chord, so you move less between chords.
Root position
A, C, Eb
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
First inversion
C, Eb, A
- Right hand
- 1-2-5
- Left hand
- 5-3-1
Second inversion
Eb, A, C
- Right hand
- 1-3-5
- Left hand
- 5-2-1
Keys that use Adim
In these major keys Adim is one of the key's own chords. The numeral beside each key is its place in that key, as chord charts write it.
- B-flat majorVIIdim
Piano practice that remembers
The chords are just the start
Virtu listens to you play, catches the wrong notes, and has today's bars ready before you start
There's a metronome too
Online metronomeKeep your chord changes even, with accents and a speed trainerFrequently asked questions
What notes are in the Adim chord?
A diminished (Adim) is A, C, Eb. In solfège that's la, do, mib.
Which fingers play Adim?
In root position, the right hand plays 1-3-5 and the left hand 5-3-1, counting from the lowest note. The thumb is 1 and the little finger is 5.
Where is Adim used?
As a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart, and as the VII chord of the major key a semitone above its root. In both places Adim lasts a beat or two and moves on.