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Adim chord on guitar

Adim (A diminished) is A, C and E♭. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 5th fret, written 5675xx. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 6th to 3rd strings at the 5th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret. Mute the 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Adim

A diminished · A C E♭ · 1 ♭3 ♭5

  • 5th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    5fr1231AE♭AC

    5675xx

  • 12th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    12fr1243AE♭AC

    x-12-13-14-13-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are A, the root.

How to play Adim

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 5th fret

    5675xx
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 6th to 3rd strings at the 5th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret.
    • Mute the 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 12th fret

    x-12-13-14-13-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 2nd string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 14th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Notes in the Adim chord

Adim is A, C and E♭, and it sounds tense and unstable: it wants to resolve a half step up. From A, count 3 half steps up to C and 3 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with A lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Adim piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Adim

B♭x13331Adim is the vii° of B♭: it climbs a half step and resolves there.B♭mx13321The same half-step climb into B♭m, in the minor key.D7xx0212Adim to D7 is ii° to V7, on the way home in a minor key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on A

AAmA7Amaj7Am7Asus2Asus4Aadd9A9A6Am7♭5Adim7Aaug

Diminished chords on other notes

CdimC♯dimDdimD♯dimEdimFdimF♯dimGdimG♯dimA♯dimBdim

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Adim on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 5th fret, written 5675xx. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 6th to 3rd strings at the 5th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret. Mute the 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

What notes are in the Adim chord?

Adim is A, C and E♭. In the shape written 5675xx, the 6th to 3rd strings play A, E♭, A and C.

Is Adim a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 5th fret (5675xx) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play Adim on guitar?

This page shows two: 5675xx (5th fret) and x-12-13-14-13-x (12th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Adim?

Yes. “Make a beat in B♭ major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where Adim is the vii° chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in B♭ major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ major on B♭ F Gm E♭, the key where Adim is the vii° chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in B♭ majorAll guitar chords

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