Chord Charts › A Diminished

A Diminished chord on guitar

A diminished (Adim) is a diminished triad: tense and unstable. It is built from A, C and D# (formula 1 ♭3 ♭5). Diminished chords usually pass between two other chords, leading up a half step. The easiest way to play it in standard tuning is xx7545.

x x 7 5 4 5

x x 7 8 10 8

Adim fingerings (low E to high E)

Fret 4: xx7545. Mute the low E and A strings.
Fret 7: x-x-7-8-10-8. Mute the low E and A strings.

Questions

What notes are in the Adim chord?: Adim is made of A, C and D#: the root, minor 3rd and tritone above A.
What is the easiest way to play Adim?: Play xx7545 (low E to high E): mute the low E and A strings.
Which keys is Adim in?: Adim belongs to Bb major (vii°).

Also try: A Major · A Minor · A7 · Amaj7 · Chord Charts