What does this mean?

[Sleepy Aligator]

I was wondering what this means * As in say A*, E* for example, I've seen that in guitar tabs. Anyone know what it means??

[fretfire]

I believe it means diminished. I could be wrong though.

[)(~)(]

Im almost certain it is a diminished chord

[toast]

Yeah, they probably don't have that circle that's like the degree sign on like "36<degree sign>F" for temperature. So yeah, diminshed

[Sleepy Aligator]

What would be another symbol for diminished? So I can work out the fingering for that chord?

[toast]

Here are a few examples...
Gdim, G*, G<degree symbol [the super-scripted "o" looking thing]>

[Sleepy Aligator]

Right thanks, I just wanted to know so I could work out the fingering. What about this one then #? What would that be called? Or how else would it be expressed.

Thank you for all the replies...

[toast]

Like G#? The # means sharp, or a semi-tone/half-step (or one fret up). The note which is inbetween G and A. It's named G Sharp. May be also called Ab (A flat)

[Sleepy Aligator]

Excellent, Thanks toast. I've neglected learning so much I'm trying to catch up.

[wild_axeman]

when you raise a note up by one semitone (up one fret) then the correct term is 'augment' which can be symbolized by + or #,however the + sign is used in describing augmented chords.For instance a C triad is C E G but a C+(augmented) triad is C E G# (the 5th is augmented or "raised a semitone")

when you decrease or lower a note by one semitone (one fret) then the proper term is 'diminish' (lessen) which may have these symbols, - (minus symbol) or b(flat symbol),or o (degree symbol)...however the o symbol is used in naming diminished chords and sometimes the - (minus) symbol is as well but in jazz the - (minus symbol) means "minor chord" so the flat symbol (b) is used to lower a note by a semitone as it doesn't interfere with conventional chord naming

and just for the record a Cm triad would be C Eb G and a Cdim triad would be C Eb Gb ,so a diminished chord is a minor chord with a diminished 5th


you diminish the 3rd in a major triad to make it a minor triad,

C = C E G
Cm = C Eb G

^The major third,E is lowered one semitone thus becoming a minor third,Eb

etc.