Adim
A Diminished
1 ♭3 ♭5
Notes in Adim
AR
C♭3
E♭♭5
The Adim chord contains 3 notes: A, C, E♭
Intervals
| Interval | Semitones | Note | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| R | 0 | A | Root |
| ♭3 | 3 | C | Minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | 6 | E♭ | Diminished 5th |
About A Diminished Chords
Diminished chords stack two minor 3rds, creating a tense, unstable sound. They often function as passing chords or leading tones — a B diminished chord naturally pulls toward C major. In film scores, diminished chords signal tension and danger.
Compatible Scales & Modes
These scales contain all the notes of Adim and can be used for soloing, improvising, and writing melodies over this chord.
A Locrian
The natural mode for diminished chords — though rarely used for extended soloing.
Whole-Half Diminished Scale
The symmetric scale built for diminished harmony — 8 notes alternating whole and half steps.