A♭ diminished (A♭dim) chord on ukulele
Diminished triad (two minor thirds) on A♭: the notes of the A♭dim chord are A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫. The same chord with a different spelling: G♯ diminished (G♯dim).
Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.
What the A♭dim 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 A♭dim 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 (A): fret 2, middle finger (C♭5)
- String 2 (E): fret 4, little finger (A♭4)
- String 3 (C): fret 2, index finger (E𝄫4)
- String 4 (G): fret 4, ring finger (C♭5)
Tuning: G C E A (the G string is higher than the C – standard re-entrant ukulele tuning). In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.
Similar chords and substitutes
If A♭dim is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.
Substitutes (by function)
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♭dim 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 A♭dim on ukulele?
The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 1 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 A♭dim chord written?
The chord symbol is A♭dim (also written Abdim), and its full name is A♭ diminished.
Related chords
The same chord on another instrument:
A♭dim on guitarA♭dim on pianoA♭dim on mandolinA♭dim on banjo
Other A♭ chords on ukulele:
A♭A♭mA♭7A♭maj7A♭m7A♭sus2A♭sus4A♭7sus4A♭6A♭m6A♭add9A♭augA♭dim7A♭m7b5A♭9A♭m9A♭maj9A♭11A♭13
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