Adim Guitar Chord

Adim guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2

Chord shapes:(2 positions)

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Triad

Arpeggio for this shape

P - m - i - m · Alternating Folk (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)

The 1st string is silent. The thumb plays the 5th and the fingers stay on the 3rd and 2nd. All 6 arpeggios

Alternating picking with steady pulse.

Speed:

What sets Adim apart

Play Adim one string at a time and you hear A, C and Eb. A is the root, C the minor third and Eb the flat fifth. Said aloud, its notes are A, C and E flat.

From the low string to the high one you hear A, Eb, A and C. The root, A, shows up twice in the main shape. The lowest note is A on string 5 and the highest is C on string 2.

In Adim, string 5 is played open and adds A. Strings 6 and 1 are not played. Everything fits between frets 1 and 2. The second shape on this page starts at fret 5.

Am7b5 is one change away. String 3 is left open, bringing in G, the minor seventh of Am7b5. It shares two notes with F, A and C.

Adim shows up in two keys. In Bb major it is the vii° and in G minor the ii°.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Recommended practice sequences

01C C - Am - Dm - G7 02G G - Em - Am - D7 03D D - Bm - Em - A7 04A A - F#m - Bm - E7

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Adim)

Formula: Diminished Triad (1 - ♭3 - ♭5)

Constituent chord intervals:

A 1C ♭3Eb ♭5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 0 (A)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Adim:

Select each shape in the diagram above to view and listen to it

Triad

Standard Position

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

5th String (A)

○Open

ADegree 1

4th String (D)

Fret 1Finger 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 2Finger 3

ADegree 1

2nd String (B)

Fret 1Finger 2

CDegree ♭3

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Middle finger. Play open: 5th String (A). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Barre 5

Inversion

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)

String Control (Muted & Active):

Root

6th String (Low E)

Fret 5Finger 1

ADegree 1

5th String (A)

Fret 6Finger 2

4th String (D)

Fret 7Finger 4

ADegree 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 5Finger 1

CDegree ♭3

2nd String (B)

×Muted

Do not play

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 5 with your Index finger, 5th String (A) at fret 6 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 7 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 5 with your Index finger. Don't play: 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Adim)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

Item	In this chord
Frets	1 to 2
Fretting fingers	3
Open	5th
Muted	6th and 1st

What to check

The open 5th string sits next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Adim

Listen: Adim → E7 · D · A

Adim
E7
Adim
D
Adim
A

Adim → E701

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 2: string 5, fret 2
finger 1: string 3, fret 1

Adim → D02

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 3 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 1: string 3, fret 2
finger 3: string 2, fret 3
finger 2: string 1, fret 2

Adim → A03

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 4 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 1: string 4, fret 2
finger 2: string 3, fret 2
finger 3: string 2, fret 2

Adim in every key

Adim sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty: 2/5
Highest fret: 2
Frets the hand covers: 2
Barre: No
Strings that ring: 4/6
Fretting fingers: 3

Major keys

vii°Bb major

Minor keys

ii°G minor

Adim on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Adim)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Adim chord?

To play the Adim chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 5 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Adim chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Adim chord is its root note: A. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Adim chord and what is its formula?

The Adim chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 formula (Diminished Triad). Its constituent pitches are A, C, Eb.

How do you prevent the Adim chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Adim chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Adim chord diagram

Adim guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the A family:

Chord A Chord Ab Chord Am Chord A7 Chord Ab7 Chord Amaj7 Chord Abmaj7 Chord Am7