Root position Cdim
C – E♭ – G♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
C Diminished Chord on Piano
Cdim C E♭ G♭ Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the C Diminished chord?
The C Diminished chord has 3 notes: C, E♭, G♭. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from C) gives it its tension.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| C | Root | 0 |
| E♭ | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G♭ | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play C Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Cdim/E♭
E♭ – G♭ – C
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion Cdim/G♭
G♭ – C – E♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with C Diminished
Every key where Cdim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the C Diminished chord?
The C Diminished chord (Cdim) is made of C, E♭, G♭. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play Cdim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on C and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Cdim?
root position Cdim (C E♭ G♭); 1st inversion Cdim/E♭ (E♭ G♭ C); 2nd inversion Cdim/G♭ (G♭ C E♭).
Play it for real
Hold Cdim and build a progression on it
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