Ab dim Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively

Ab dim position 1 guitar chord diagram

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.

Abdim Chord Notes and Formula

Notes of the Ab dim chord:

Ab Cb Ebb

Chord Formula:

Formula: 1 b3 b5

Same chord, different name: Abdim is also written as G#dim (G# diminished).

Ab Dim Chord Interactive Fretboard

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Ab Dim Guitar Chord Diagrams

Position 1 Movable

Ab dim position 1 guitar chord diagram

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

Ab dim position 3 guitar chord diagram

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

download this tutorial in pdf Find more shapes in our all guitar chords online library. If you prefer a printable pdf, download the Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf

Chords That Go With Abdim

One key where Abdim fits is A major, where it works as the vii chord. These are the main chords of that key, the ones you will often hear around it:

I · A ii · Bm iii · C#m IV · D V · E vi · F#m

See every key in the guitar keys chart, or build a progression with these chords in the chord progression generator.

More Ab Chords

Ab Abm Ab7 Abm7 Abmaj7 Absus4 Absus2 Abadd9 Ab9 Ab6 Abaug Abm6 Ab7sus4 Abdim7

Want to know how this chord is built? Read diminished and half-diminished chords, or browse all Ab guitar chords.

Play This Chord With Other Roots

C dim | D dim | E dim | F dim | G dim | A dim | B dim | C#dim | D#dim | F#dim | G#dim | A#dim | Abdim | Bbdim | Dbdim | Ebdim | Gbdim

Giancarlo Facoetti, founder of FaChords Guitar

Created by

Giancarlo Facoetti

Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher

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.