C diminished chord (Cdim)

C diminished is a 3-note diminished chord: C – E♭ – G♭. It sounds unstable and tense. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele, with fingering and audio.

NotesC – E♭ – G♭
Formula1 – ♭3 – ♭5
SymbolCdim · C° · Cm♭5
TypeDiminished chord

C diminished on guitar

Fret 3 (A shape)
Fret 10 (D shape)

How to place your fingers (fret 3)

Finger 1 (index) on fret 3 of string 5 (A).
Finger 2 (middle) on fret 4 of the 4th string (D).
Place finger 4 (pinky) at fret 5 on string 3 (G).
Finger 3 (ring) on fret 4 of the 2nd string (B).
Do not play the 6th and 1st strings: strum from the 5th string.

The numbers inside the dots are the fingers of your left hand: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring and 4 pinky. The colored dots mark the root (C). The other positions let you change chords without jumping along the neck, or give you a higher-pitched sound.

C diminished on piano

In root position, play C – E♭ – G♭ from bottom to top with fingers 1, 3 and 5 of your right hand (thumb, middle and pinky). With your left hand you usually play just the root (C) or the root and the fifth.

Inversions

First inversion: E♭ – G♭ – C
Second inversion: G♭ – C – E♭

C diminished on ukulele

From fret 2
From fret 5

Standard tuning G – C – E – A (the G string is the high one). Is your ukulele in tune? Use the ukulele tuner.

Notes and intervals of C diminished

C1 · root
E♭♭3 · minor third
G♭♭5 · diminished fifth

It's the seventh degree of the major scale and works as a passing chord between two chords a whole step apart.

Progressions with Cdim

A leading tone that resolves: vii° – I

Cdim is the seventh degree of D♭ major and leads to D♭.

Passing chord: I – ♯i° – ii

It climbs by half steps between two chords a whole step apart.

Which keys contain C diminished?

Cdim belongs to 2 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).

Key	Degree
D♭ major	vii°
B♭ natural minor	ii°

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C diminished chord?

C diminished (Cdim) has 3 notes: C (root), E♭ (minor third), G♭ (diminished fifth).

How do you play C diminished on guitar?

The most common shape starts at fret 3: x 3 4 5 4 x (from the 6th to the 1st string). Place finger 1 (index) at fret 3 on the 5th string (A). Place finger 2 (middle) at fret 4 on the 4th string (D). Place finger 4 (pinky) at fret 5 on the 3rd string (G). Place finger 3 (ring) at fret 4 on the 2nd string (B). Do not play the 6th or 1st string: strum from the 5th.

What is the chord symbol for C diminished?

It is written Cdim; you may also see C° or Cm♭5. Letter notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A, and B for the notes.

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