A♭ Diminished Chord

Abdim Level 5: The Abyss

A♭ Diminished (Abdim) is built from the notes Ab, B, D. Its intervals are Root — Minor 3rd — Diminished 5th. Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

Hear A♭ Diminished Chord

Piano sample · tap to play

Notes and intervals

Interval Semitones Note
Root 0 Ab
Minor 3rd 3 B
Diminished 5th 6 D

What does a♭ diminished chord sound like?

Tense, compressed, and unstable. The diminished triad sounds like it needs to go somewhere — it creates a feeling of suspense, anxiety, or unresolved drama.

A♭ Diminished Chord in music

A chromatic passing chord that creates tension before resolving. Ab diminished appears in jazz turnarounds and classical modulations.

How to recognise a♭ diminished chord by ear

Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished.

Practice identifying this chord in ChordFrog's Level 5: The Abyss .

Practice tip

Ab diminished appears in jazz turnarounds and chromatic modulations. Play G major → Ab diminished → A minor to hear it function as a chromatic passing chord. This three-chord pattern trains your ear to spot diminished chords in chromatic contexts.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in a A♭ Diminished chord?
A♭ Diminished (Abdim) contains three notes: Ab, B, D. The intervals are Root, Minor 3rd, Diminished 5th.
How do I recognise A♭ Diminished by ear?
Diminished sounds "squeezed." Both intervals are minor thirds, creating a tight, symmetrical structure. If a chord makes you feel uneasy or tense — like something is about to happen — that's diminished. Practice identifying A♭ Diminished in ChordFrog's Level 5 (The Abyss).
What level is A♭ Diminished in ChordFrog?
A♭ Diminished is introduced at Level 5: The Abyss. This is the final level, adding diminished and augmented triads for the complete chord vocabulary.

Other Ab chords

A♭ Major Chord A♭ Minor Chord A♭ Augmented Chord A♭ Sus2 Chord A♭ Sus4 Chord

All Diminished Chords chords

C Diminished Chord D♭ Diminished Chord D Diminished Chord E♭ Diminished Chord E Diminished Chord F Diminished Chord F♯ Diminished Chord G Diminished Chord A Diminished Chord B♭ Diminished Chord B Diminished Chord

Hear a♭ diminished chord for yourself

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