A diminished piano chord (Adim)
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: root, minor third, diminished fifth. Tense and unstable, it is mostly used as a passing chord.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- A – C – E♭
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- C – E♭ – A
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- E♭ – A – C
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| A | root |
| C | minor third |
| E♭ (E flat) | diminished fifth |
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5 · A – C – E♭
A progression with this chord
The diminished chord works as a passing chord to the chord a semitone above.