Explore chords · Ukulele
A diminished chord on ukulele (Adim)
Also called or written Adim or A°
A diminished contains A, C, and E♭. The 2nd-fret shape mutes the E string and stretches the ring finger to the 3rd fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
How do you play an A diminished chord on ukulele?
A diminished is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 × 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 3 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭3) |
IntermediateThe ring finger must reach the A string at fret 3 while the middle finger holds the C string at fret 3, and the E string must be muted.
Adim/E♭ inversion · 5-3-5-3
A diminished is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 5 3: ring finger on the G string at fret 5, index finger on the C string at fret 3, pinky finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 3 | C (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 4 | A (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (♭3) |
Adim/E♭ inversion · ×-3-5-3
A diminished is played at the 3rd fret as × 3 5 3: index finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 1 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (♭3) |
8th fret
A diminished is played at the 8th fret as 8 9 8 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 9 and middle finger on the E string at fret 8. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
A diminished is built from the 1, ♭3, ♭5 formula. The ♭5 interval gives the chord its tense, unresolved quality. Compare it to A minor, which raises the fifth to E.
What goes wrong with A diminished?
- Letting the open E string ring through, which adds a note outside the chord.
- Flattening the ring finger onto the E string, muting it unintentionally.
When to use it
A diminished works as a passing chord in G natural minor or B♭ major. It suits tense, dramatic moments in jazz and blues.
Changing to and from A diminished
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives A♭ diminished.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives B♭ diminished.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret shape keeps A in the bass for a root-position sound. The Adim/C inversion puts C in the bass, which softens the dissonance slightly.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A diminished written?
A diminished is written A° or Adim. The root is A.
What is the difference between A diminished and A minor?
A diminished lowers the fifth from E to E♭, creating a tritone with the root. A minor keeps the perfect fifth E.
Why is the E string muted in the 2nd-fret shape?
The open E string is not a chord tone of A diminished. Muting it keeps the voicing clean.