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Chord chart for A diminished / C (1st inversion) Guitar Chord: Notes, Shapes & Bass Note | Guitar Wiz

Adim/C guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 31 playable shapes

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A diminished / C (1st inversion) guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A diminished / C (1st inversion)

Adim/C is the A diminished / C (1st inversion) guitar chord with C in the bass. It uses the notes A, C, and E♭ and the interval formula 1-♭3-♭5.

The A diminished diminished chord is built from minor thirds, including a diminished fifth E♭, producing a tense, unstable sound. This dissonant, unresolved tension is commonly used for dramatic transitions, suspenseful moments, or eerie atmospheres in classical, jazz, and film music. With C in the bass, this voicing functions as the 1st inversion of A diminished.

Also written as Adim, Ao/C, and Am♭5/C.

Root note: A
Bass note: C
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 31

Chord tones

ACE♭

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape xxa8a8

xxa8a8

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 4th string down.

Shape xxa8ab

xxa8ab

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 4th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

A Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

C Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

E♭ Diminished Fifth ♭5

The flattened fifth adds tension and a restless, unstable edge.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

Adim/C shape xxa8a8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Adim/C shape xxa8ab

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Adim/C shape x312xx

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, second, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the third string

Adim/C shape x3121x

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and first strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the second string

Adim/C shape x3x24x

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fourth, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the second string

Adim/C shape x3x545

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fourth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Adim/C shape xxx545

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings
  5. 5 Strum from the third string down to the first string

Adim/C shape 80x8xx

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 6th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Let the fifth string ring open
  4. 4 Do not play the fourth, second, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the third string

Quick answers

What notes are in Adim/C?

Adim/C uses the notes A, C, and E♭. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-♭5.

What is another name for Adim/C?

Adim/C is also written as Adim, Ao/C, and Am♭5/C.

How do you play Adim/C on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string. Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string. Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string. Place the 4th finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string. Strum from the 4th string down.

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