HandyChords

Cdim chord on guitar

C Diminished. Notes: C, Eb and Gb.

Cdim guitar chord diagram, fret 3 position3fr××1CR2Gbb54CR3Ebb3CGbCEb
Fret 3 position · Easy

How to play Cdim

  1. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C).
  2. Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 4 (Gb).
  3. Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 4 (Eb).
  4. Put your pinky finger on the 3rd (G) string at fret 5 (C).
  5. Don't play the low E and high E strings: skip them or mute them with a fretting finger.
  6. Strum from the A string down.
Lowest note: C (the root)Strings played: 4 of 6Other voicings: 3 below

All 4 ways to play Cdim

Easiest first. Tap play to hear each one.
Cdim guitar chord, fret 3 position3fr××1CR2Gbb54CR3Ebb3CGbCEb

Fret 3 position

Easy
Cdim guitar chord, fret 1 position××4CR1Ebb32CR3Gbb5CEbCGb

Fret 1 position

Medium
Cdim guitar chord, fret 6 position6fr××3CR1Ebb34Ebb32Gbb5CEbEbGb

Fret 6 position

Hard
Cdim guitar chord, fret 10 position10fr×××1CR2Gbb53Ebb3CGbEb

Fret 10 position

Hard

Notes and theory

Croot
Ebb3 · minor third
Gbb5 · diminished fifth

The diminished triad stacks two minor thirds. It sounds tense and unstable and is mostly used as a passing chord. The formula is 1 b3 b5, and you will also see it written as C° and Co.

Keys that use Cdim

D flat major vii°B flat minor ii°
Cdim on ukuleleCdim on piano

More C chords

All C guitar chords
C guitar chord diagram×3CR2E31CRCEGCECmajorCm guitar chord diagram×3CR2Ebb31CR4G5CEbGCGCmminorC7 guitar chord diagram×3CR2E34Bbb71CRCEBbCEC7dominant seventhCm7 guitar chord diagram4fr××2G53CR1Ebb34Bbb7GCEbBbCm7minor seventhCmaj7 guitar chord diagram2G53CR1E3GCEGBECmaj7major seventhCsus4 guitar chord diagram×2CR3F41CR4G5CFGCGCsus4suspended fourthCsus2 guitar chord diagram×3CR1CR4G5CDGCGCsus2suspended secondCaug guitar chord diagram××3CR2E31G##51CRCEG#CCaugaugmentedC6 guitar chord diagram×4CR2E33A61CRCEACEC6major sixthC9 guitar chord diagram2CR3E34D9ECEGDEC9dominant ninthCadd9 guitar chord diagram×2CR1E33D9CEGDECadd9added ninthCm7b5 guitar chord diagram××1CR3Gbb52Bbb74Ebb3CGbBbEbCm7b5half-diminishedCdim7 guitar chord diagram××1Ebb33Abb72CR4Gbb5EbACGbCdim7diminished seventhC7sus4 guitar chord diagram5fr××1G51CR2F43Bbb7GCFBbC7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourthC5 guitar chord diagram3fr××××1CR3G5CGC5power chordCm6 guitar chord diagram3fr××1CR3G52Ebb34A6CGEbACm6minor sixthCm9 guitar chord diagram×1CR2Bbb74Ebb33G5CDBbEbGCm9minor ninthCmaj9 guitar chord diagram×3CRCDGBECmaj9major ninth

diminished chords in every key

CdimC#dimDdimD#dimEdimFdimF#dimGdimG#dimAdimA#dimBdim

Questions

What notes are in the Cdim chord?

Cdim (C diminished) is made of three notes: C (root), Eb (minor third) and Gb (diminished fifth).

How do you play Cdim on guitar?

The easiest Cdim is the "fret 3 position" shape. Put your index finger on the 5th (A) string at fret 3 (C). Put your middle finger on the 4th (D) string at fret 4 (Gb). Put your ring finger on the 2nd (B) string at fret 4 (Eb).

Is Cdim hard to play on guitar?

No. The easiest version is rated easy and uses 4 fretted notes.

What key is Cdim in?

Cdim belongs to 2 keys: D flat major (as the vii° chord) and B flat minor (as the ii° chord).

What does a diminished chord sound like?

The diminished triad stacks two minor thirds. It sounds tense and unstable and is mostly used as a passing chord.