Adim Guitar Chord
A Diminished · A–C–Eb
Adim is the A diminished chord: A–C–Eb. Its sound is tense and unstable — stacked minor 3rds that work as dramatic passing chords.
You'll rarely sit on Adim for a full bar — diminished chords are connectors. Classic uses: passing between the I and ii chords in Ab major, or substituting for the V7♭9 a half-step below. The symmetrical shape repeats every three frets, so one grip gives you four chords.
The most common way to play Adim is the diminished grip at the 5th fret (5 x 7 8 x 8, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 3 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Adim: 3 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Adim Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | ♭5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | A | C | Eb |
Adim is built from the A minor scale.
Adim Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Adim chord?
Adim contains 3 notes: A (R), C (♭3), Eb (♭5). The interval formula for a diminished chord is R–♭3–♭5.
What is the easiest way to play Adim on guitar?
Use the diminished grip at the 5th fret: 5 x 7 8 x 8 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Adim has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Adim a major or minor chord?
Adim is built on a minor triad (A–C–Eb) with the ♭5 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
What keys use the Adim chord?
Adim appears diatonically in C major (as vi), G major (as ii), and F major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of A minor.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play Adim
OpenFret listens to your real guitar through the microphone. Check your chords ring clean in the free Studio, or learn the fretboard by battling monsters in Guitar Quest — free in your browser, no signup needed.