A♭dim guitar chord
How to play A♭dim on guitar — the notes A♭, C♭, E𝄫, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear A♭dim strummed. A♭dim is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in A♭dim
A diminished chord is spelled from its root up: A♭ (R), C♭ (♭3), E𝄫 (♭5). Those are the only notes in A♭dim — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still A♭dim.
What a diminished chord is
In plain terms, a diminished triad stacks two minor thirds (root, ♭3, ♭5) — a chord made entirely of tension, with no stable fifth to rest on.
How it's used: It's the vii° of a major key, the note-below-home chord that badly wants to resolve up to the tonic. It rarely sits still.
The sound: Suspenseful, unresolved, uneasy — a chord on the edge of its seat. Where you'll hear it: Passing chords, classical cadences, tension in film and metal.
Keys that use A♭dim
A♭dim appears naturally in these keys — click any to see all seven of its chords and how A♭dim fits in:
Other A♭ chords
diminished chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open A♭dim in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See A♭dim on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in A♭dim?
A♭dim is made of 3 notes: A♭ (the R), C♭ (the ♭3), E𝄫 (the ♭5).
How do you play A♭dim on guitar?
A♭dim is played as a barre chord around fret 11: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
What key is A♭dim in?
A♭dim is a diatonic chord in 2 keys, including the vii° of A major. See all of them below.