A Diminished Piano Chord
Root
AMin 3rd
Cb 5th
EbE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C
Eb
The Notes in an A Diminished Chord
The Root
You'll have no trouble finding the root of an A Diminished chord, because it's what gives an A Diminished chord it's name: It's the note A.
The Min 3rd
The minor third of an A Diminished chord is C. The minor third is up three half-steps from the Root.
Finding C from A step by step:
- Start on: A
- Step 1: move up to Bb
- Step 2: move up to B
- Step 3: Land on C
Min 3rd
CRoot
A1
2
- Bb is a minor second above A.
- B is a major 2nd above A.
- C is a minor third above A.
The b 5th
The flat fifth of an A Diminished chord is Eb. The flat fifth is down six half-steps from the Root -- but it's easier to just think of it as a variation on the fifth. Once you know your fifths, the flat fifth and sharp fifth are a lot easier to find.
Finding Eb from A step by step:
- Start on: A
- Step 1: move down to G#
- Step 2: move down to G
- Step 3: move down to F#
- Step 4: move down to F
- Step 5: move down to E
- Step 6: Land on Eb
b 5th
EbRoot
A1
2
3
4
5
- G# is a minor second below A.
- G is a major 2nd below A.
- F# is a minor third below A.
- F is a major third below A.
- E is a fourth below A.
- Eb is a flat fifth below A.
The Inversions of A Diminished
Root Position
Root
AMin 3rd
Cb 5th
EbE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
A
C
Eb
1st Inversion
Min 3rd
Cb 5th
EbRoot
AE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
Eb
A
2nd Inversion
b 5th
EbRoot
AMin 3rd
CE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
Eb
A
C