Abdim Ukulele Chord
Need the Abdim chord for a song? It is a three-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. Your fingers go on the C, E and A strings. The steps below show exactly where each one sits.
A three-finger shape. Here is how to play Abdim, step by step.
- Notes: Ab, B and D
- Frets: x 2 4 2
- Tuning: g C E A
Abdim ukulele chord details
- Type
- Diminished triad
- Also known as
- Ab diminished
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5
- Intervals
- Ab (root), B (minor 3rd), D (diminished 5th)
- Notes
- Ab, B and D
- Frets
- x 2 4 2
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Abdim chord
Here is the Abdim chord step by step:
- Put your index finger on the 2nd fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 4th fret of the E string.
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.
- Do not play the g string.
- Strum the strings you are fretting.
Take it slowly the first few times and it will start to feel natural. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
What notes are in the Abdim chord?
The Abdim chord is built from three notes: Ab, B and D (the root, minor 3rd and diminished 5th). Diminished chords are tense and dark, usually used as a quick passing chord between two others rather than on their own.
Ukulele songs that use the Abdim chord
- Misc TraditionalJingle Bell Rock
- MitskiFirst Love / Late Spring
- Bo BurnhamGoodbye
- The Living TombstoneIt’s Been So Long
- AdeleRight As Rain
- George HarrisonMy Sweet Lord
- Elvis PresleyIf I Can Dream
- Misc CartoonsHappily Ever After (from Steven Universe The Movie)
- Antônio Carlos JobimQuiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)
- Lyn LapidLike You Want Me To
Want to go further?
Once Abdim feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Ab7, Abmaj7, Abm and Ab. Diminished chords work as passing chords, so you will usually slide Abdim between two others rather than rest on it. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.