A diminished chord on piano

Adim · A° — a tense chord of two minor thirds that wants to move on.

Notes	A – C – E♭
Formula	1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Symbols	Adim, A°
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play A diminished on the piano

Start on A. Add the third (C) and the fifth (E♭). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays A diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

A – C – E♭ · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

C – E♭ – A · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

E♭ – A – C · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use A diminished

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

ii° in G minor
vii° in B♭ major

Other A chords

A major A minor A augmented A sus2 A sus4 A6 A7 A major seventh A minor seventh A diminished seventh A half-diminished

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