Chord chart for A♯o Guitar Chord (A♯ diminished): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

A♯ diminished guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 39 playable shapes

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A♯ diminished guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

A♯ diminished guitar chord

A♯o is the A♯ diminished guitar chord. 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.

Also written as A♯dim and A♯m♭5.

Root note: A♯
Quality: diminished
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 39

Chord tones

A♯C♯E

Common guitar voicings

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

Shape xx8650

xx8650

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 3rd string.
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Let the first string ring open.
  5. 5 Strum from the 4th string down.

Shape xx8656

xx8656

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 3rd string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 1st string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 4th 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.

A♯ diminished shape xx8650

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape xx8656

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape xx89b9

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 9th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 9th fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 11th 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

A♯ diminished shape x12x2x

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape x1xx20

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape x12x20

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape x1x320

How to play this shape

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

A♯ diminished shape xxx320

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Let the first string ring open
  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 A♯o?

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

What is another name for A♯o?

A♯o is also written as A♯dim and A♯m♭5.

How do you play A♯o on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 2nd string. Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 3rd string. Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 4th string. Let the first string ring open. Strum from the 4th string down.

Related Articles

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