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Cdim Guitar Chord

C diminished (Cdim) is made of the notes C E♭ G♭. Here are 3 ways to play it on guitar, starting with the easiest.

How to play Cdim on guitar

  1. Shape 1

    From fret 3

    3fr 1 2 4 3 C G♭ C E♭

    x3454x

  2. Shape 2

    From fret 7

    7fr 4 2 1 3 C E♭ G♭ C

    x-x-10-8-7-8

  3. Shape 3

    From fret 10

    10fr 1 2 4 3 C G♭ C E♭

    x-x-10-11-13-11

Notes in Cdim

Formula 1 ♭3 ♭5
DegreeNote
1C
♭3E♭
♭5G♭

Shape 1 step by step

  1. Put your index finger on string 5 at fret 3.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 4 at fret 4.
  3. Put your little finger on string 3 at fret 5.
  4. Put your ring finger on string 2 at fret 4.
  5. Don’t play strings 6, 1.
  6. Strum from string 5 to string 2.

Shape 2 step by step

  1. Put your little finger on string 4 at fret 10.
  2. Put your middle finger on string 3 at fret 8.
  3. Put your index finger on string 2 at fret 7.
  4. Put your ring finger on string 1 at fret 8.
  5. Don’t play strings 6, 5.
  6. Strum from string 4 to string 1.

Tune your guitar first

A chord only sounds right when your instrument is in tune. Check your strings with the free online tuner before you practise. Open the guitar tuner

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Cdim chord?

C diminished has the notes C E♭ G♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5. The numbers are steps of the major scale, counted from the root.

What is the easiest way to play Cdim on guitar?

Start with shape 1 (from fret 3), written as x3454x from string 6 to string 1. Here x means you don’t play that string and 0 means it rings open.

Diminished chords in every key

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