Chord · Diminished Key of C♯

C♯dim Chord on guitar · voicings, notes & diagram

The C♯dim chord contains the notes C♯, E, G. Tense, unresolved, suspenseful — both the 3rd and 5th lowered.

Voicings

How to play C♯dim.

C♯dim 9fr × × × 1 2 3 E A D G B E

E-shape

Every chord tone on the neck

EADGBE 35791215 Root Scale note

Notes & intervals.

# Degree Note
1 1 C♯ root
2 b3 E
3 b5 G

Sound & use

Tense, unresolved, suspenseful — both the 3rd and 5th lowered.

Passing chord between two stable chords (e.g. C → C#dim → Dm); the vii° in major-key harmony.

Common in: jazz, classical, film, metal

Also written as: °, dim

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Same key

Other chords in the key of C♯.

C♯

Major

C♯m

Minor

C♯aug

Augmented

C♯sus2

Suspended 2nd

C♯sus4

Suspended 4th

C♯7

Dominant 7

C♯maj7

Major 7

C♯m7

Minor 7

C♯m7b5

Minor 7♭5

C♯dim7

Diminished 7

C♯m(maj7)

Minor-Major 7

C♯6

Major 6

C♯m6

Minor 6

C♯add9

Add 9

C♯m(add9)

Minor Add 9

C♯9

Dominant 9

C♯maj9

Major 9

C♯m9

Minor 9

All keys

Diminished chord in every key.

Cdim

Ddim

D♯dim

Edim

Fdim

F♯dim

Gdim

G♯dim

Adim

A♯dim

Bdim

FAQ

About the C♯dim chord
on guitar.

What notes are in the C♯dim chord?

The C♯dim chord contains the notes C♯, E, G — that's a 1, b3, b5 from the root.

How do I play C♯dim on guitar?

The most common voicings for C♯dim are shown above as fretboard diagrams. Start with the e-shape — finger position numbers are inside the dots. Mute any string marked X; play open strings shown with O.

Where is C♯dim used in music?

Tense, unresolved, suspenseful — both the 3rd and 5th lowered. Passing chord between two stable chords (e.g. C → C#dim → Dm); the vii° in major-key harmony.

What's a movable shape for C♯dim?

Both E-shape (root on the 6th string) and A-shape (root on the 5th string) barre versions are common. Once you can play those two shapes, you can play Diminished in any key just by sliding up or down the neck.

Can I print the C♯dim chord diagram?

Yes. Use your browser's print function (Cmd/Ctrl + P) — the SVG diagrams print crisply at any size. For a custom voicing or a printable handout with multiple chords, use the chord chart generator.