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Diminished chords on guitar

Diminished chords in all 12 keys.

Diminished formula compared with nearby chord types

These A-rooted chords share their listed notes; each button plays the two chords in order.

Adim and Am

Adim: A · C · Eb · formula 1 · b3 · b5

Am: A · C · E · formula 1 · b3 · 5

Shared notes: A, C; Eb changes to E.

Adim and A

Adim: A · C · Eb · formula 1 · b3 · b5

A: A · C# · E · formula 1 · 3 · 5

Shared notes: A; C, Eb change to C#, E.

The intervals 1, b3, and b5 give it a tense, unstable sound.

4 of the 12 diminished chords on guitar have an easy shape (no barre, three fingers or fewer, first four frets): Ddim, Bdim, C#dim, Fdim.

Easiest to hardest

  1. Ddim
  2. Bdim
  3. C#dim
  4. Fdim
  5. Bbdim (higher up the neck)
  6. Edim (higher up the neck)
  7. Abdim (higher up the neck)
  8. Adim (higher up the neck)
  9. Ebdim (higher up the neck)
  10. F#dim (higher up the neck)
  11. Gdim (higher up the neck)
  12. Cdim (higher up the neck)

Other chord types: Major · Minor · 7th · Major 7th · Minor 7th · Sus2 · Sus4 · Add9 · Augmented