Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
A flat diminished chord (A♭dim) — guitar chord chart
A♭dim is a diminished chord built on A♭. Its notes are A♭, C♭, E𝄫. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord. It’s also written G♯dim.
A♭dim chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play A♭dim
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 4, from the 6th string to the 3rd string (the barre).
- Middle (2) on the 5th string, fret 5 (D).
- Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 6 (A♭).
- Strum from the 6th string down; don’t play strings 2, 1.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 4 and play the open Edim shape — it sounds as A♭dim. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in A♭dim
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A♭ | root |
| ♭3 | C♭ | minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | E𝄫 | diminished 5th |
Progressions with A♭dim
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the A♭dim chord?
- A♭dim (A flat diminished) has 3 notes: A♭, C♭, E𝄫.
- Is A♭dim hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 4 you can use the open Edim shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between A♭dim and A♭?
- A♭ is A♭ C E♭. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord.
- Is A♭dim the same as G♯dim?
- Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.