C♯ Diminished Guitar Chord C♯dim

Notes
C♯ E G
Intervals
1 ♭3 ♭5
Also written
D♭dim

1 open grip and 12 triad shapes on four string sets, drawn exactly as Chord Lab draws them.

Open C♯ diminished in Chord Lab

C♯ diminished open-position shapes

One grip near the nut, using open strings.

Numbers above the strings are fingers; o is an open string and x is not played. The root is the white dot with a heavy red ring and red centre, or a red ring round an open string.

C♯dimStrings 2–5x41o2x12345

C♯ diminished triads on every string set

C♯, E and G as three-note triads: root position, 1st and 2nd inversion on each string set of three neighbouring strings, lowest set first.

Strings 4–6

Root positionStrings 4–6421xxx56789
1st inversionStrings 4–6312xxx1011121314
2nd inversionStrings 4–6231xxx23456

Strings 3–5

Root positionStrings 3–5x421xx1213141516
1st inversionStrings 3–5x312xx56789
2nd inversionStrings 3–5x231xx910111213

Strings 2–4

Root positionStrings 2–4xx421x89101112
1st inversionStrings 2–4xx413x1213141516
2nd inversionStrings 2–4xx121x56789

Strings 1–3

Root positionStrings 1–3xxx43134567
1st inversionStrings 1–3xxx21389101112
2nd inversionStrings 1–3xxx1311213141516

What C♯ diminished does in a key

Every key in which C♯dim is diatonic, with the scale degree it sits on.

Major keys
vii° in D major
Minor keys
ii° in B minor; vii° in D harmonic minor

Harmonic minor keys use the harmonic minor scale, with its raised 7th.

Where C♯ diminished often goes next

Other chords on C♯

Diminished chords in every key

Drop 2, Drop 3 and shell voicings in Chord Lab Pro

Drop 2, Drop 3, Drop 2+4, close and shell voicings of major 7, minor 7 and dominant 7 chords are in Chord Lab Pro.

Compare free and Pro memberships