Leading-tone resolution
in B♭ major
Piano chord
A Diminished Piano Chord (Adim)
The A Diminished chord on piano is made of the notes A, C and E♭. Tense and unstable. Often used as a passing chord.
Tap any key to hear it.
What notes are in A Diminished?
3 notes, built 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 up from A.
- Notes
- A – C – E♭
- Formula
- 1 – ♭3 – ♭5
- Semitones from the root
- 0 – 3 – 6
- Symbol
- Adim
- Chord type
- Diminished, 3 notes
How to play A Diminished on piano
- Right hand: A (1), C (3), E♭ (5). Fingers 1 – 3 – 5, thumb on A.
- Left hand: A (5), C (3), E♭ (1). Fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on A.
Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) on both hands.
A Diminished inversions
Each inversion puts a different note of the chord in the bass. Written as a slash chord: Adim/C, Adim/E♭.
Can you find A Diminished?
Tap the notes on the keyboard, then check. Six chords, starting with this one.
1 / 6 Tap the notes of A Diminished (Adim)
Score 0
Any octave, any order. Each key you tap plays.
What key is A Diminished in?
The keys whose scale contains every note of Adim, with the chord’s Roman numeral in each.
Major keys
- B♭ majorvii°
Minor keys
- G minorii°
A Diminished chord FAQ
What notes are in the A Diminished chord?
A Diminished (Adim) has 3 notes: A, C and E♭. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5, counted up from A.
How do you play A Diminished on the piano?
Put your right thumb on A and play A, C and E♭ with fingers 1 – 3 – 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 1, little finger on A.
What are the inversions of A Diminished?
1st inversion: C, E♭, A (Adim/C). 2nd inversion: E♭, A, C (Adim/E♭).
What key is A Diminished in?
Adim belongs to B♭ major (vii°) and G minor (ii°).