C diminished (Cdim) chord on guitar

Diminished triad (two minor thirds) on C: the notes of the Cdim chord are C – E♭ – G♭.

Dots show:

Easy versioneasy

Position 1medium

Position 7medium

Position 8medium

Position 10medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the Cdim chord sounds like

A diminished triad is two stacked minor thirds with a diminished fifth. It sounds tense and unsettled; in a major key it sits on degree vii and leads into the tonic.

Notes of the Cdim chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	C	root
3	E♭	minor third (3 semitones)
5	G♭	diminished fifth (6 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Easy version

String 1 (e): not played
String 2 (B): fret 4, ring finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): not played
String 4 (D): fret 4, middle finger (G♭3)
String 5 (A): fret 3, index finger (C3)
String 6 (E): not played

Position 1

String 1 (e): fret 2, ring finger (G♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, middle finger (C4)
String 3 (G): not played
String 4 (D): fret 1, index finger (E♭3)
String 5 (A): fret 3, little finger (C3)
String 6 (E): not played

Position 7

String 1 (e): fret 8, ring finger (C5)
String 2 (B): fret 7, index finger (G♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 8, middle finger (E♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, little finger (C4)
String 5 (A): not played
String 6 (E): not played

Tuning: E A D G B E (low to high). String 6 is the thickest, the low E. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The Cdim chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

D♭ major: vii°
B♭ minor: ii°

Similar chords and substitutes

If Cdim is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

A♭7 – an incomplete dominant: the diminished chord is the top of this seventh chord
C♯ – where it leads (leading tone → root)

Richer versions

Cdim7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
Cm7b5 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cdim chord?

C, E♭, G♭. The root is C; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth.

What is the easiest way to play Cdim on guitar?

The easiest shape above is “Easy version”, rated easy. We show 5 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the Cdim chord written?

The chord symbol is Cdim, and its full name is C diminished.