A♯ diminished chord on piano
A♯dim is a diminished chord built on A♯. It uses the notes A♯ - C♯ - E and sounds tense and unstable; it wants to move somewhere. It is also written as B♭ diminished.
- Notes
- A♯ C♯ E
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 1
- Chord symbol
- A♯dim
How to play A♯dim step by step
- Find A♯. A♯ is the last black key in each group of three. The same key is also called B♭.
- Add C♯, 3 half steps above A♯.
- Add E, 6 half steps above A♯.
- Press all 3 keys together with fingers 1 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
A♯dim inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Which keys use the A♯dim chord?
Knowing where a chord lives helps you guess the next chord in a song. A♯dim appears naturally in these keys:
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the A♯ diminished chord?
The A♯ diminished chord (A♯dim) contains 3 notes: A♯, C♯, E. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5.
How do you play A♯dim on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on A♯ and play A♯, C♯, E together using fingers 1 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 1.
Is A♯ diminished the same as B♭ diminished?
Yes. A♯ diminished and B♭ diminished use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.