A diminished (Adim) chord on mandolin

The A diminished chord (Adim) is a diminished triad (two minor thirds), made of three notes: A – C – E♭.

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 5medium

Position 7easy

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What the Adim chord sounds like

A diminished triad is two stacked minor thirds with a diminished fifth. It sounds tense and unsettled; in a major key it sits on degree vii and leads into the tonic.

Notes of the Adim chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A	root
3	C	minor third (3 semitones)
5	E♭	diminished fifth (6 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 5, ring finger (A5)
String 2 (A): open (A4)
String 3 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, middle finger (C4)

Position 5

String 1 (E): fret 5, middle finger (A5)
String 2 (A): fret 6, ring finger (E♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 7, little finger (A4)
String 4 (G): fret 5, index finger (C4)

Position 7

String 1 (E): fret 8, ring finger (C6)
String 2 (A): open (A4)
String 3 (D): fret 7, index finger (A4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, middle finger (E♭4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Adim chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B♭ major: vii°
B♭ minor: vii°
G minor: ii°

Similar chords and substitutes

If Adim is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F7 – an incomplete dominant: the diminished chord is the top of this seventh chord
B♭ – where it leads (leading tone → root)

Richer versions

Adim7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Am7b5 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Adim chord?

A, C, E♭. The root is A; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Adim on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Position 7”, rated easy. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the Adim chord written?

The chord symbol is Adim, and its full name is A diminished.