Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
C diminished chord (Cdim) — guitar chord chart
Cdim is a diminished chord built on C. Its notes are C, E♭, G♭. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord.
Cdim chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play Cdim
- Index (1) on the 5th string, fret 3 (C).
- Middle (2) on the 4th string, fret 4 (F♯).
- Little finger (4) on the 3rd string, fret 5 (C).
- Ring (3) on the 2nd string, fret 4 (E♭).
- Strum from the 5th string down; don’t play strings 6, 1.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 3 and play the open Adim shape — it sounds as Cdim. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in Cdim
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | root |
| ♭3 | E♭ | minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | G♭ | diminished 5th |
Progressions with Cdim
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the Cdim chord?
- Cdim (C diminished) has 3 notes: C, E♭, G♭.
- Is Cdim hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 3 you can use the open Adim shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between Cdim and C?
- C is C E G. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord.