A diminished chord is a major triad that has been flattened by a semitone. It is composed of the Root, Minor Third and Minor Sixth Intervals of an A major scale.
A diminished chord, commonly abbreviated as “adim,” is one of the most popular chord types. In this article we’ll explain what adim is, how to play it on piano and ukulele, as well as some theory behind its creation.
Basics
The adim chord (also known as the A diminished triad) is composed of the notes A, C and Eb. It’s one of the most common guitar chords and featured in numerous songs.
This chord is incredibly popular on the piano. You can play it in all seven positions of a standard piano, making it simple to master once you get the hang of it!
In this lesson, we’ll investigate the adim chord in all its forms. First, we’ll learn about its fundamental structure and how it fits into various scales. Afterward, we’ll take a look at some of its most popular applications.
The Adim chord can be composed using four main chord types: Adim7, Cdim7, Edim7 and Gdim7. All four of these chords are enharmonically identical, meaning that they can all be substituted for each other within a progression without losing their tonal value.
The ascending diminished chord is the most commonly used for resolving minor chords. However, some musicians prefer using the descending diminished version as well.
To create the adim chord on the piano, we’ll need to follow the same formula we’ve been using for diminished triads. To do this, lower both third and fifth scale degrees by half a step in accordance with this diminished triad formula; this will result in notes A-C-Eb for your adim chord.
Once you understand the fundamentals of playing an adim chord on guitar or piano, it’s time to practice! There are various ways to play this chord on these instruments – so take your time and explore each option!
This is an excellent chance to gain knowledge about the adim chord, its various variations and how it functions on a piano. Furthermore, you’ll improve your fingering skills as you’ll be able to recognize all the shapes of this chord!
The adim chord is an essential element of rock music’s progression. You’ll hear songs using this chord across many genres, from rock to pop and country. Additionally, it provides a great starting point for learning improvisation and soloing techniques.
Fingerings
The adim chord, commonly referred to as an “A diminished triad,” is a three-note triad composed of a root, minor third and flattened fifth. This chord type is frequently employed in songs.
A dim triad is an easy chord to play on the piano and it can sound beautiful as well. To learn how to play this chord, take a look at the images below and listen to the audio clip provided.
On the right hand, finger #1 plays the fifth note, #2 plays the third and #3 acts as the root. These fingerings can be applied to both major and minor triads.
Adim triads can be played in a variety of positions, including octave position which is more common than one might think. This inversion requires your pinky to stretch.
You can use the app’s triad feature to compose a chord from any note, even those not found on your keyboard (like A, C or F). Your fingering will be displayed on the main screen and you can swipe it to hear what results are achieved.
On the iPhone, the triad function can be found in the Options menu of the app and located directly to the left of main fingering. It’s an invaluable aid for learning to play triads and will help you get your hands on correct notes more quickly.
With all fingerings in the app, you can customize them by choosing which intervals are displayed and using the voicing button. Moreover, you can omit certain intervals (such as the 5th) or alter the required string count.
Finally, you can view and touch a star diagram of the intervals represented by this fingering. This is one of the most useful tools when practicing fingered music; it helps you quickly determine which intervals are more crucial than others and how to make them sound better.
Adim chord fingerings boast many other impressive features, such as a star diagram of its intervals and touchable formula that changes interval denominations from R 3 5 7 to more precise U M3 P5 m7. Furthermore, there’s a permutation diagram which displays how these intervals are ranked relative to one another.
Scales
On the guitar, there are various scales which can be used to create a diminished sound. These include the adim chord, blues scale and minor pentatonic.
The adim chord is the most widely played diminished guitar scale, found mainly in blues and rock music styles. While this scale can be challenging to learn, once you have the basics down, it becomes relatively straightforward to use.
It is essential to remember that an adim chord is composed of the Root, Minor Third Interval and Minor Sixth Interval of an A Major Scale as its base note. The upper-note E is then dropped by half a step to create an A Diminished Chord; thus why the term “dim” is often used when describing such a scale.
Alternatively, the Root and Minor third can be stacked atop each other to form the Adim Diminished Scale, whereby the lower note is then lowered by half a step to create an A Diminished Chord. This produces a jazzier and dissonant sound which can also be combined with other scales like Cdim7 chord.
This diminished guitar scale is a widely used type, and it can be played over various chord progressions. It’s especially helpful for soloing on the guitar as it gives you freedom to get creative and explore various sounding licks.
In addition to the A Diminished Scale, there are other modal scales which can be used over diminished chords such as Locrian Modes, Dorian and Lydian modes. The Locrian modes (explained further below) are particularly suitable for creating a half-diminished sound with extra tension.
The Dorian and Lydian modes are both great for creating a slightly brighter tone when playing over a dim7 chord. While both modes can be used with any m7(b5) chord, the Dorian mode offers an intricate feel which lends itself well to improvisation and exploring the #2 sound.
Another type of diminished guitar scale is a double diminished chord, created by superimposing two dim7 chords over each other, separated by a semitone. To do this, place one Ddim7 chord in your left hand and one Cdim7 chord in your right hand – with the Ddim7 being higher of the two. This jazzy sound can be played over any chord progression.
Alternate tunings
Alternating tunings as a guitar player can be an excellent way to unleash your creativity. It forces you out of your comfort zone and encourages experimentation, leading to unique sounds that set your music apart from others.
Alternate tunings make it possible to play power chords with just one finger on the fretboard, making it simpler to execute various riffs and other guitar techniques. This can create a more expansive sound for your songs or add extra texture in certain sections of the tune.
The most widely used alternate tuning is “Drop D,” which lowers the E string to a D and allows guitarists to play power chords on strings 4, 5, and 6 with just one finger. This tuning is frequently employed in heavy metal music as well as blues guitar players.
There are a few lesser-known alternate tunings that have become increasingly popular over time among guitarists of all genres. Each has its own advantages, but all can provide an exciting challenge to take your playing to the next level!
One popular tuning for blues guitar players is “Open G,” which allows you to play a G Major chord with just one finger on the fretboard and makes playing moveable barre chords effortless without fretting.
DADGAD is an intriguing tuning that’s often employed in Celtic and folk music, as well as rock music. This versatile tuning produces various drones and pipe-like sounds.
When learning how to play in this tuning, it is essential to not go too far down the scale. Doing so could cause your strings to become loose and rattle against the fretboard, leading to a buzzing sound.
Alternate tunings can be challenging to master. To ensure the best results, practice in a safe environment with your guitar set up for the alternate tuning you are trying out or take it to a luthier who can provide assistance with setup.