A Diminished Arpeggio
The A Diminished Arpeggio arpeggio outlines the notes A, C, E♭ across the entire fretboard. Playing these 3 notes individually creates melodic lines that follow the chord shape. Contains 1 flatted note.
The diminished triad is pure tension — unstable and desperate to resolve. Both the 3rd and 5th are lowered compared to a major triad, creating one of the most dissonant sounds in Western music.
Built from the root, flat 3rd, and flat 5th, it stacks two minor thirds. It naturally appears as the 7th chord in major keys (like B° in the key of C), pulling strongly toward home. In rock and pop, it also shows up as the 2nd chord in minor keys, adding a distinctly dark quality.
Take any minor chord shape and lower the 5th by one fret. The shape is perfectly symmetrical: moving it up 3 frets gives you an inversion of the same chord, so only three unique diminished triads exist.
Works beautifully as a passing chord or a chromatic connector between two diatonic chords. Don't overuse it — the power comes from surprise.
- Space Oddity - David Bowie (passing diminished)
- Don't Look Back in Anger - Oasis (passing diminished)
- Sleep Walk - Santo & Johnny (passing diminished)
- God Only Knows - The Beach Boys (passing diminished)
- Everytime You Go Away - Daryl Hall