Guitar Wiz App Icon Guitar Wiz
Download on the App Store
Chord chart for A diminished / E♭ (2nd inversion) Guitar Chord: Notes, Shapes & Bass Note | Guitar Wiz

Adim/E♭ guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 36 playable shapes

Post WhatsApp Facebook Reddit
A diminished / E♭ (2nd inversion) guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A diminished / E♭ (2nd inversion)

Adim/E♭ is the A diminished / E♭ (2nd inversion) guitar chord with E♭ 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 E♭ in the bass, this voicing functions as the 2nd inversion of A diminished.

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

Root note: A
Bass note: E♭
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 36

Chord tones

ACE♭

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape b0a8a8

b0a8a8

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 3rd string in barre position.
  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 6th string.
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open.
  6. 6 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape xxdedb

xxdedb

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 14th fret of the 3rd 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/E♭ shape b0a8a8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 3rd string in barre position
  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 6th string
  5. 5 Let the fifth string ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Adim/E♭ shape xxdedb

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 14th fret of the 3rd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Adim/E♭ shape xx121x

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 Do not play the sixth, fifth, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fourth string down to the second string

Adim/E♭ shape x6x5x5

How to play this shape

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

Adim/E♭ shape x675xx

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 4th 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/E♭ shape x675x5

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and second strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Adim/E♭ shape x678x8

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 7th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and second strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Adim/E♭ shape xxx8a8

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 2nd string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings
  5. 5 Strum from the third string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Adim/E♭?

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

What is another name for Adim/E♭?

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

How do you play Adim/E♭ on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string and 3rd string in barre position. Place the 2nd finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string. Place the 3rd finger on the 10th fret of the 2nd string. Place the 4th finger on the 11th fret of the 6th string. Let the fifth string ring open. Strum from the 6th string down.

Related Articles

Articles that reference this chord and explain how to use it in your playing.