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C Diminished Chord on Guitar

3fr1243

Root on string 5

C diminished, written Cdim, is a diminished chord: a minor third and a flat fifth, a tense sound that leads somewhere else. Cdim has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 4-string shape from the 3rd fret.

How to play Cdim, finger by finger

  1. Put your index finger on string 5 at the 3rd fret.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 4 at the 4th fret.
  3. Put your ring finger on string 2 at the 4th fret.
  4. Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 5th fret.
  5. Strum strings 5 to 2 only.

More ways to play Cdim

8fr2341
Root on string 6 from fret 8
4123
Movable near the nut
2341
Movable, fret 2 near the nut
5fr4213
Movable, fret 5 from fret 5
6fr3142
Movable, fret 6 from fret 6
7fr4213
Movable, fret 7 from fret 7
10fr1243
Movable, fret 10 from fret 10
13fr4123
Movable, fret 13 from fret 13

Notes in C diminished

NoteIntervalRole
C1root
E♭♭3minor third
G♭♭5flat fifth

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5

Questions about Cdim

What notes are in Cdim?

C, E♭ and G♭. Those are the 1, ♭3, ♭5 of the chord, counted from C.

Which strings do I strum for Cdim?

Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.

What chord does Cdim lead to?

Most often C♯. The root of Cdim sits a half step below C♯, so it leads up into C♯.

Often played with Cdim

Other diminished chords