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A Diminished Chord
The A Diminished Chord is A, C, and E-flat, with the top note on a black key. The notes are close together, the shape is compact, and the sound is tense, leaning toward B-flat.
How to play the A Diminished Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A Diminished Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The A Diminished Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A diminished chord are stacked in thirds with A on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| A Diminished Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A C E♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | Adim or A° |
The A Diminished Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (C) becomes the bottom note, and the root (A) jumps up to the top.
| A Diminished Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C E♭ A |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A°6 or A°/C |
The A Diminished Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (E♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (C) goes to the top.
| A Diminished Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♭ A C |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | A°6/4 or A°/E♭ |
A Diminished Chord theory and function
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds, and the result is tense and unsettled. It is never a place to rest. It behaves like a dominant 7th chord with the root missing, so it wants to move.
The A diminished chord is the leading-tone chord (vii°) in B♭ major. In minor keys, it is the leading-tone chord (vii°) in B♭ minor and the supertonic (ii°) in G minor.
The notes A, C, and E♭ are the top three notes of F7, so the chord leads to B♭ the way F7 does. A common use is as a passing chord over a rising bass line, I – vii°6 – I6: B♭ – A°/C – B♭/D, so the bass walks B♭, C, D. Try playing A° and then B♭ and listen to how the tension settles.
Other chords built on A
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