Piano chords · Diminished chord
Adim piano chord (A diminished)
Adim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
A – C – E♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Adim
Adim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- A, the root
- C, the minor third
- E♭, the diminished fifth
E♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on A, 3 on C, 5 on E♭.
- Left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C, 1 on E♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | A – C – E♭ |
| 1st inversion | C – E♭ – A |
| 2nd inversion | E♭ – A – C |
Where Adim belongs
Adim is the vii° chord in B♭ major, the chord that leads up a half step to B♭.
Adim is Am with the fifth lowered a half step (E becomes E♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
B♭ – E♭ – Adim – B♭: I – IV – vii° – I in B♭ major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Adim chord?
Adim (A diminished) is made of A, C and E♭: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play Adim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on A, 3 on C, 5 on E♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on A, 3 on C, 1 on E♭.
How is Adim different from the plain chord?
Adim is Am with the fifth lowered a half step (E becomes E♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.