Ab dim Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively
Abdim, the Ab diminished chord, is spelled Ab, Cb and Ebb. The lowest voicing starts at fret 3 and the highest reaches fret 13.
Compared with a minor triad only one note changes: the fifth drops by a semitone. Looking for a scale to play over it? The Ab whole-half scale contains all three notes of Abdim. Cb and Ebb are theoretical notes, which is why the same sound is also written G#dim. The logic of stacking thirds is explained in how chords are built.
In sound, Abdim matches the vii chord of A major, which that key spells with other letters. Strum a shape in front of your microphone and the chord player at the top shows which strings ring and which are muted.
Ab diminished guitar chord is also written as Abdim, Ab°, Abm(b5) or Abmb5.
Notes of the Ab dim chord:
Chord Formula:
Formula: 1 b3 b5
Ab Dim Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Ab Dim Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the B string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 4 of the high E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 6 of the D string
Position 2 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 11 of the A string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 12 of the D string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 12 of the B string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 13 of the G string
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FAQ
Why does Abdim contain Cb and Ebb?
Chord notes are named on consecutive letters. Abdim needs a minor third on the letter C and a flat fifth on the letter E, so they are written Cb and Ebb. On an instrument they sound as B and D.
What notes are in the Abdim chord?
Abdim is spelled Ab, Cb and Ebb. That gives the root, a minor third and a flat fifth. Two minor thirds are stacked, so the chord is built entirely from equal steps.
Is Abdim the same chord as G#dim?
Yes. Abdim and G#dim share the same pitches and sound identical. Abdim is the flat-key spelling, which needs the double flat Ebb, while G#dim uses simpler sharp notes.
What scale suits Abdim?
The Ab Locrian scale contains all three chord tones. It reads Ab, Bbb, Cb, Db, Ebb, Fb, Gb, which is a theoretical spelling of the same pitches as a Locrian mode on G#.
How many Abdim voicings can be played on guitar?
There are 2 voicings, neither using an open string or a barre. The lowest sits at fret 3 and the highest at fret 13.