Cdim Guitar Chord

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Cdim is a diminished chord made of C · E♭ · G♭. Two stacked minor 3rds — unstable and tense. The standard shape is a barre chord at fret 3: x3454x (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Cdim

Fret 3 · root on 5th string · x3454x

Cdim

Fret 7 · root on 4th string · x-x-10-8-7-8 · from fret 7

Cdim

Fret 8 barre · root on 6th string · 8-9-10-8-x-x · from fret 8

Cdim

Fret 10 · root on 4th string · x-x-10-11-13-11 · from fret 10

Index finger on string 5 (A), fret 3.
Middle finger on string 4 (D), fret 4.
Ring finger on string 2 (B), fret 4.
Pinky finger on string 3 (G), fret 5.
Don't play strings 6, 1 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

Cdim guitar chord chart — fret 3 barre x3454x and 3 more shapes — All Cdim shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

C
rootE♭
3rdG♭
5th

Play it easier with a capo

There's no convenient open shape to capo for this chord — the barre shape is the way to go.

Try it: capo on

Keys that use this chord

the vii° chord in Db major

Scales that fit

C Locrian Mode

Other C chords

C Cm C7 Cmaj7 Cm7 C6 Cm6 Csus4 Csus2 C7sus4 Cdim Cdim7 Cm7b5 Caug Cadd9 C9 Cm9 Cmaj9

Diminished chords in other keys

Cdim C♯dim Ddim E♭dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim A♭dim Adim B♭dim Bdim

FAQ

What notes are in the Cdim chord?

The Cdim chord is made of C, E♭, G♭. Two stacked minor 3rds — unstable and tense.

What's the easiest way to play Cdim on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x3454x (a barre chord at fret 3). Barre with your index finger and form the shape with the other fingers.

Which scale works for soloing over Cdim?

C locrian fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).