Chords › C♯ diminished
C Sharp Diminished Chord on Guitar
- C♯dim
- C♯ · E · G
- From fret 4
- Also written D♭dim
Root on string 5
C sharp diminished, written C♯dim, is a diminished chord: a minor third and a flat fifth, a tense sound that leads somewhere else. C♯dim has no open shape, so it is usually played as a 4-string shape from the 4th fret.
How to play C♯dim, finger by finger
- Put your index finger on string 5 at the 4th fret.
- Put your middle finger on string 4 at the 5th fret.
- Put your ring finger on string 2 at the 5th fret.
- Put your pinky finger on string 3 at the 6th fret.
- Strum strings 5 to 2 only.
More ways to play C♯dim
Notes in C♯ diminished
| Note | Interval | Role |
|---|---|---|
| C♯ | 1 | root |
| E | ♭3 | minor third |
| G | ♭5 | flat fifth |
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Questions about C♯dim
What notes are in C♯dim?
C♯, E and G. Those are the 1, ♭3, ♭5 of the chord, counted from C♯.
Which strings do I strum for C♯dim?
Start on string 5 and strum down to string 1, and leave the strings marked with an X silent.
Is C♯dim the same as D♭dim?
Yes, on guitar they are played the same way and sound the same. C sharp and D flat are two names for one note: songs in sharp keys write C♯, songs in flat keys write D♭.
What chord does C♯dim lead to?
Most often D. The root of C♯dim sits a half step below D, so it leads up into D.
Related chords
Often played with C♯dim
Other diminished chords