Welcome to your guide on the C Diminished Chord Guitar, a sonority that brings a unique color to your guitar playing. Diminished chords, including the C diminished, are known for their tense, intriguing sound, adding sophistication to various musical styles. The C dim chord is formed by three notes: C, Eb, and Gb. Understanding this chord opens up new avenues for musical expression and creativity on the guitar.
To fully grasp the C diminished chord, it’s essential to understand its construction. It is built using specific intervals: the root (1), the minor third (b3), and the diminished fifth (b5). In the case of the C dim chord, these intervals translate to the notes C (root), Eb (minor third), and Gb (diminished fifth). For a deeper dive into the theory behind chord construction, explore our tutorials on fretboard intervals and guitar chord notation. These resources will enhance your understanding of music theory and chord formation.
Let’s explore how to play the C diminished chord on guitar. Chord diagrams are a great tool for learning new shapes and positions on the fretboard. Below, you will find diagrams illustrating different ways to play the C dim chord. These diagrams provide visual representations of finger placement, making it easier to learn and memorize the chord shapes. If you’re interested in learning more about building chords through stacked intervals, our tutorial on building chords by stacking intervals can provide further insight.
Whether you are a beginner guitarist or an experienced player, adding the C diminished chord to your repertoire is a valuable step. Diminished chords are not as common as major or minor chords, but they play a crucial role in creating harmonic interest and movement in music. To expand your knowledge of diminished chords further, be sure to check out our comprehensive tutorial dedicated to diminished guitar chords. Now, let’s look at the different positions for playing the C diminished chord.
C dim Chord Notes:
C Eb Gb
Diminished Chord Formula:
Root (1) – Minor Third (b3) – Diminished Fifth (b5)
The chord diagrams below are arranged from easier to more challenging fingerings. If you are new to reading chord diagrams, our guide on how to read chord diagrams will be helpful. For those struggling with barre chords, our Bar Chords Tips tutorial offers valuable techniques. Additionally, for a text-based representation of these chords, you can visit our accessible chords page.
Position 1 (Movable Shape)
C dim chord position 1 movable shape guitar diagram
Position 2 (Movable Shape)
C dim chord position 2 guitar fretboard diagram
Position 3 (Movable Shape)
C dim chord position 3 diagram for guitar
Explore our extensive guitar chords library for even more chord shapes. For a handy printable resource, download our Free Guitar Chords Chart Pdf.
Play C dim and Other Diminished Chords
Explore diminished chords with different root notes to expand your harmonic palette.
C dim | D dim | E dim | F dim | G dim | A dim | B dim | C#dim | D#dim | F#dim | G#dim | A#dim | Abdim | Bbdim | Dbdim | Ebdim | Gbdim
The fretboard map below illustrates the notes of the C diminished chord across the guitar neck. By selecting notes from this map, you can voice the chord in various ways.
[Fretboard map showing C diminished chord tones across the neck]
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
b5
1
b3
b5
1
b3
b5
1
b3
b5
1
b3
1
b3
b5
1
b3
b5
1
b5
1
b3
b5
