The A diminished chord (Adim) contains A, C and E♭. Use the keyboard diagram to see the notes, hear the chord and compare root position with its two inversions.
The a diminished triad uses a root, minor third and diminished fifth.
Preserve the written note spelling shown for this chord.
Choose a position to keep the written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
Adim uses 1–♭3–♭5: A–C–E♭.
Compared with A minor, lower the fifth by one semitone.
The chord tones stay the same while the lowest chord tone changes.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | Adim | A3–C4–E♭4 | A3 |
| First inversion | Adim/C | C4–E♭4–A4 | C4 |
| Second inversion | Adim/E♭ | E♭4–A4–C5 | E♭4 |
Fingerings are not included on this page. The diagram shows note positions, not a prescribed hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: diminished triad formula and written tone spelling
Scope: Supports the chord formula and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
A, C, E♭.
1–♭3–♭5.
No. The root stays the same; the lowest chord tone changes.
Select the three pitch classes that make Adim, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks pitch classes. Order and octave do not affect the result; fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: A–C–E♭ · Formula: 1, ♭3, ♭5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.