A♯dim, diminished chord
A♯, C♯ and E
- Root
- A♯
- Minor third
- C♯
- Diminished fifth
- E
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 (3, 6 half steps above A♯)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | A♯ | C♯ | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
A♯ diminished inversions
A♯ diminished has 2 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
A♯dim
Root position
| Notes | A♯ | C♯ | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
A♯dim/C♯
First inversion
| Notes | C♯ | E | A♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
A♯dim/E
Second inversion
| Notes | E | A♯ | C♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with A♯ diminished
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. A♯ diminished appears as:
- vii° in B major
- ii° in G♯ minor
- vii° in B minor
How A♯ diminished is built
A♯ is the root, C♯ the minor third and E the diminished fifth.
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: the root, a minor third (3 half steps up) and a diminished fifth (6 half steps up). It sounds tense and usually moves on to another chord.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of A♯ diminished are A, C, E. That is why it is spelled A♯, C♯ and E.
Find A♯ diminished yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 3
Tap the notes of A♯ diminished, in any octave and any order.
Practice A♯ diminished in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the A♯ diminished chord?
A♯ diminished (A♯dim) has three notes: A♯, C♯ and E. A♯ is the root, C♯ the minor third and E the diminished fifth.
What fingers do you use for A♯ diminished on piano?
In root position, play A♯, C♯ and E with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of A♯ diminished?
A♯ diminished has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (A♯dim/C♯): C♯, E and A♯. Second inversion (A♯dim/E): E, A♯ and C♯.
What key is A♯ diminished in?
A♯ diminished appears as vii° in B major, ii° in G♯ minor and vii° in B minor.