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Piano chord

A♭dimA flat diminished

  • A♭1
  • C♭♭3
  • E𝄫♭5
Notes
3
Positions
3
Span
6semitones
Fingers
1-3-5

How to play A♭dim on piano

  1. Find A♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 5 on E𝄫.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on A♭, 3 on C♭, 1 on E𝄫.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. A♭dim on piano, Root position: A♭ C♭ E𝄫A♭, C♭, E𝄫C♭E𝄫A♭351
    A♭dim on piano, Root position: A♭ C♭ E𝄫A♭, C♭, E𝄫C♭E𝄫A♭315

    Root position · A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫

  2. A♭dim on piano, 1st inversion: C♭ E𝄫 A♭C♭, E𝄫, A♭C♭E𝄫A♭125
    A♭dim on piano, 1st inversion: C♭ E𝄫 A♭C♭, E𝄫, A♭C♭E𝄫A♭531

    1st inversion · C♭ – E𝄫 – A♭

  3. A♭dim on piano, 2nd inversion: E𝄫 A♭ C♭E𝄫, A♭, C♭E𝄫C♭A♭153
    A♭dim on piano, 2nd inversion: E𝄫 A♭ C♭E𝄫, A♭, C♭E𝄫C♭A♭512

    2nd inversion · E𝄫 – A♭ – C♭

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

A♭dim inversions

A♭dim can be played in 3 positions. In root position A♭ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.

Chords that go with A♭dim

The other chords of A major, the key where A♭dim is home (vii°). Songs in this key move between them.

A♭dim with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays A♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays A♭–C♭–E𝄫.

A♭dim with two handsA♭, A♭, C♭, E𝄫C♭E𝄫A♭A♭3551

A♭dim on other instruments

About the A♭dim chord

A flat diminished has 3 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E𝄫 (♭5). A diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked, with a flat fifth. Tense and unstable, it leads strongly to the next chord.

On the keyboard, start from A♭ and add the other notes above it: A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫. From the lowest to the highest key that is 6 semitones. That is less than an octave, so A♭dim sits comfortably under one hand.

Each inversion of A♭dim puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–E𝄫–A♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is E𝄫 (E𝄫–A♭–C♭).

A♭dim is A♭dim7 without G𝄫.

Keys that contain A♭dim: A major (vii°), F sharp minor (ii°).

Questions

What notes are in the A♭dim chord?

A♭dim (A flat diminished) has 3 notes: A♭ (1), C♭ (♭3), E𝄫 (♭5).

How many inversions does A♭dim have?

A♭dim can be played in 3 positions: Root position (A♭–C♭–E𝄫); 1st inversion (C♭–E𝄫–A♭); 2nd inversion (E𝄫–A♭–C♭).

What is the difference between A♭dim and A♭dim7?

A♭dim is A♭dim7 without G𝄫.

Can I play A♭dim with one hand?

Yes. In root position A♭dim spans 6 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More A♭ chords