About the A♭dim chord
The diminished triad stacks two minor thirds, giving a tense, unstable sound. It is usually a passing chord that leads somewhere else. The symbol for it is A♭dim. (also written G♯dim)
A♭1
C♭♭3
D♭5
How to play A♭dim
- Put your index finger on the G string at fret 1.
- Put your middle finger on the A string at fret 2.
- Put your ring finger on the low E string at fret 4.
- Put your little finger on the high E string at fret 4.
- Strum and let the D and B strings ring open.
1 index · 2 middle · 3 ring · 4 little
Other A♭ chords
A♭dim chord questions
What notes are in a A♭dim chord?
A♭dim is made of A♭, C♭ and D. In intervals that is 1, ♭3, ♭5 above the root, A♭.
What is the easiest way to play A♭dim?
The first shape above is the most common one: 4 2 0 1 0 4 from the low E string to the high E, where x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. Start there, and try the other shapes once it feels comfortable.
Is A♭dim a barre chord?
The main shape above is an open chord with no barre. Some of the other shapes further up the neck do use a barre, which lets you move the same shape to any key.