C Diminished Chord (Cdim)
Notes: C, E♭, G♭. Tap any diagram to hear it.
Cdim
Cdim on guitar
x-x-10-8-7-8x-x-10-11-13-11Strings from low (left) to high (right). Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. × = don’t play, ○ = open string.
Cdim on ukulele
5-3-2-35-6-8-611-12-11-9Cdim on piano
Other C chords
Diminished chords in other keys
About the C Diminished chord
Diminished chords are built from two minor thirds. They sound tense and unstable and are often used as passing chords. Cdim is built from the root (C), minor third (E♭), diminished fifth (G♭).
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C Diminished chord?
The Cdim chord is made of C, E♭, G♭: the root, minor third, diminished fifth.
How do you play Cdim on guitar?
The most common fingering is x-x-10-8-7-8, from the low E string to the high E string (x = don’t play that string, 0 = open string).
How do you play Cdim on piano?
Press C, E♭, G♭ together. In root position the lowest note is C.