Piano chord
C Diminished Chord
Cdim is a diminished chord built on C. It contains the notes C – E♭ – G♭.
Cdim
Also written: C°, Cm♭5
- C
- E♭
- G♭
Notes in Cdim
Count up from C using the intervals below. The formula shows each note relative to the C major scale.
| Notes | Intervals | Formula | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 1 | 0 |
| E♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 | 3 |
| G♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 | 6 |
How to play Cdim on piano
- Right hand: fingers 1–3–5 (thumb on C).
- Left hand: fingers 5–3–1 (little finger on the lowest note).
- Press the keys together, then try playing them one at a time as an arpeggio.
Cdim inversions
An inversion puts a different note of Cdim at the bottom. The notes stay the same, the colour and voice leading change.
Root position
CdimC – E♭ – G♭
1st inversion
Cdim/E♭E♭ – G♭ – C
2nd inversion
Cdim/G♭G♭ – C – E♭
About diminished chords
Stack two minor 3rds and you get pure tension. Diminished chords are the sound of suspense, dread, and impending drama.
Sound: Dark & suspenseful
Songs that use it
- Chim Chim Cher-ee · Mary PoppinsMusical
- Super Mario Bros. Theme · Koji KondoGame Music
- Psycho Theme · Bernard HerrmannFilm Score
Keys that contain Cdim
Cdim is built only from notes of these keys. The Roman numeral shows its role in each key.
Hear Cdim with different sounds and compare it with other chords in the interactive builder.
Open in the chord builderPractising on an acoustic piano that sounds off?
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