Piano chords · Diminished chord
A♯dim piano chord (A♯ diminished)
A♯dim (also written B♭dim) 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 A♯dim
A♯dim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- A♯, the root
- C♯, the minor third
- E, the diminished fifth
A♯ and C♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them 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 A♯dim belongs
A♯dim is the vii° chord in B major, the chord that leads up a half step to B.
A♯dim is A♯m 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 – A♯dim – 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 A♯dim chord?
A♯dim (A♯ diminished) is made of A♯, C♯ and E: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play A♯dim 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 A♯dim different from the plain chord?
A♯dim is A♯m with the fifth lowered a half step (E♯ becomes E). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.