Root position A♭dim
A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
A♭ Diminished Chord on Piano
A♭dim A♭ C♭ E𝄫 Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Also written G♯ dim: the same keys under another name.
Notes
What notes are in the A♭ Diminished chord?
The A♭ Diminished chord has 3 notes: A♭, C♭, E𝄫. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from A♭) gives it its tension. Spelled by the rules of harmony, C♭ is the B key, E𝄫 is the D key on the keyboard.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | Root | 0 |
| C♭ (the B key) | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| E𝄫 (the D key) | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play A♭ Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion A♭dim/B
C♭ – E𝄫 – A♭
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion A♭dim/D
E𝄫 – A♭ – C♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with A♭ Diminished
Every key where A♭dim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the A♭ Diminished chord?
The A♭ Diminished chord (A♭dim) is made of A♭, C♭, E𝄫. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play A♭dim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on A♭ and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of A♭dim?
root position A♭dim (A♭ C♭ E𝄫); 1st inversion A♭dim/B (C♭ E𝄫 A♭); 2nd inversion A♭dim/D (E𝄫 A♭ C♭).
Is A♭ Diminished the same as G♯ dim?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold A♭dim and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.