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Adim chord

Adim (A diminished) is A, C and E♭. It sounds tense and unstable: it wants to resolve a half step up.

Adim

A diminished · A C E♭ · 1 ♭3 ♭5

ACE♭

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the Adim chord

From A, count 3 half steps up to C and 3 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5: each number is the note’s place in the A major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is two white keys and one black key (E♭).

The notes of Adim and their intervals from A
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
A1Root0
C♭3Minor third3
E♭♭5Diminished fifth6

Adim chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

A C E♭

Written Adim, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

C E♭ A

Written Adim/C: C at the bottom.

2nd inversion

E♭ A C

Written Adim/E♭: E♭ at the bottom.

Keys with the Adim chord

Adim is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after Adim

B♭B♭ D FAdim is the vii° of B♭: it climbs a half step and resolves there.B♭mB♭ D♭ FThe same half-step climb into B♭m, in the minor key.D7D F♯ A CAdim to D7 is ii° to V7, on the way home in a minor key.

More piano 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 piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Adim chord?

Adim is A, C and E♭. On the piano that is two white keys and one black key (E♭).

How do you play Adim on the piano?

With your right hand, put your thumb (1) on A, your middle finger (3) on C and your little finger (5) on E♭. With your left hand it is 5, 3 and 1 on the same notes. From A, count 3 half steps up to C and 3 more to E♭.

What are the inversions of Adim?

Root position: A C E♭. 1st inversion: C E♭ A (Adim/C). 2nd inversion: E♭ A C (Adim/E♭). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Adim in?

In major keys, Adim is the vii° chord in B♭ major. In minor keys, it is the ii° chord in G minor and the vii° chord in B♭ minor (with its raised seventh).

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 piano chords

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