Adim Chord
How to play A diminished on guitar — unstable and tense — used to pull between two stronger chords.
- Notes
- A – C – D♯
- Frets (low → high)
- x 12 13 14 13 x
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Shape
- Movable shape at fret 12
How to play Adim, step by step
- 1Put your index finger on the 12th fret of the A string (5th).
- 2Put your middle finger on the 13th fret of the D string (4th).
- 3Put your little finger on the 14th fret of the G string (3rd).
- 4Put your ring finger on the 13th fret of the B string (2nd).
- 5Leave the low E and high E strings out — mute them with the side of a finger, or just avoid them as you strum.
- 6Strum slowly and check every string sounds cleanly; if one buzzes, press closer to the fret wire and arch your fingers so they clear the neighbouring strings.
What makes a diminished chord
Unstable and tense — used to pull between two stronger chords.
| Note | Interval | Semitones above A |
|---|---|---|
| A | root | 0 |
| C | minor 3rd | 3 |
| D♯ | flat 5th | 6 |
Other A chords
Same root, different colour. Swapping one of these into a progression is the quickest way to change its mood without changing the key.
Every diminished chord
The same shape moved around the neck. If you can play Adim you are a fret-slide away from all of these.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the Adim chord?
- Adim is made of A, C, D♯ — the root, minor 3rd, flat 5th of A.
- Is Adim hard to play?
- Adim is an awkward shape — x 12 13 14 13 x asks your fingers to stretch across 4 strings at different frets. Building up to it slowly, or dropping to the root and 5th until your hand is stronger, both work as stepping stones.
Got a chart full of chords like Adim?
Upload a chord sheet and move every chord into a key that fits your hands and your voice — the layout stays exactly as printed. Or let the capo calculator pick the position that turns the barre chords into open ones.