Learn › A Diminished Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
A Diminished Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
Learn the Adim triad inversions on guitar and you can play A diminished in any area of the neck with three fingers: A, C and Eb, rearranged.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Adim on each string set
Each row uses three neighbouring strings and climbs the neck from the lowest shape to the highest. Mute or skip the other strings.
G-B-e strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
D-G-B strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
A-D-G strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
E-A-D strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Three orders of the same three notes
The notes never change, only their order. With C or Eb at the bottom, Adim sounds lighter and lets the melody note on top change.
Tense and unstable: it wants to move to the next chord.
All Adim triad frets in one table
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 14 13 11 | x x x 5 4 5 | x x x 8 10 8 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 7 5 4 x | x x 10 8 10 x | x x 1 2 1 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 12 10 8 x x | x 3 1 2 x x | x 6 7 5 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 5 3 1 x x x | 8 6 7 x x x | 11 12 10 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
A short Adim triad routine
- Learn the three shapes on the top strings first, slowly, saying the bottom note each time.
- Connect the shapes up and down the G-B-e strings, four strums per shape.
- Pick one fret area, around fret 8, and find Adim on every string set without moving your hand far.
- Last, switch between Adim and another triad in the same area of the neck.
A few minutes a day on one string set is enough; add the next set next week.
From one shape to the next
Walk up the G-B-e strings through 1st inversion (fret 5) → 2nd inversion (fret 10) → root position (fret 14), then back down. The top notes A, C, Eb change while the chord stays Adim.
Around fret 8, without moving the hand: G-B-e strings 8-10-8; D-G-B strings 7-5-4; A-D-G strings 6-7-5; E-A-D strings 8-6-7.
Test Adim with your guitar
In ChordRunner chord names come one after another and the microphone checks every chord you play, open shape, barre or triad. It runs in the browser.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play Adim triads on the top strings?
On the G, B and high E strings: 1st inversion 5-4-5; 2nd inversion 8-10-8; Root position 14-13-11. Play only those three strings.
Which Adim triad shape is the easiest?
Usually the lowest one on the top strings, 5-4-5, because it sits near the nut.
What does a Adim triad sound like?
Tense and unstable: it wants to move to the next chord.
Can I practise Adim with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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