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Adim7 chord on guitar

Adim7 (A diminished seventh) is A, C, E♭ and G♭. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written 5x454x. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Adim7

A diminished seventh · A C E♭ G♭ · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7

  • 4th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    4fr2131AG♭CE♭

    5x454x

  • 11th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    11fr2314AE♭G♭C

    x-12-13-11-13-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 Adim7

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. Root on the 6th string · 4th fret

    5x454x
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 4th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 5th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 5th string · 11th fret

    x-12-13-11-13-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 13th 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 Adim7 chord

Adim7 is A, C, E♭ and G♭, and it sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic film-villain chord. From A, count 3 half steps up to C, 3 more to E♭ and 3 more to G♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7. 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 Adim7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Adim7

B♭mx13321Adim7 is the vii°7 of B♭m: every note leans into it.B♭x13331The same half step up into B♭, home in the major key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on A

AAmA7Amaj7Am7Asus2Asus4Aadd9A9A6AdimAm7♭5Aaug

Diminished seventh chords on other notes

Cdim7C♯dim7Ddim7D♯dim7Edim7Fdim7F♯dim7Gdim7G♯dim7A♯dim7Bdim7

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Adim7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written 5x454x. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

What notes are in the Adim7 chord?

Adim7 is A, C, E♭ and G♭. In the shape written 5x454x, the 6th to 2nd strings play A, G♭, C and E♭.

Is Adim7 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play Adim7 on guitar?

This page shows two: 5x454x (4th fret) and x-12-13-11-13-x (11th 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 Adim7?

Yes. “Make a beat in B♭ minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ minor on B♭m G♭ D♭ A♭, the key where Adim7 is the vii°7 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♭ minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in B♭ minor on B♭m G♭ D♭ A♭, the key where Adim7 is the vii°7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in B♭ minorAll guitar chords

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