Root position C♯dim
C♯ – E – G
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
C♯ Diminished Chord on Piano
C♯dim C♯ E G Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Also written D♭ dim: the same keys under another name.
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 C♯dim/E
E – G – C♯
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion C♯dim/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 C♯dim 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 (C♯dim) 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 C♯dim 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 C♯dim?
root position C♯dim (C♯ E G); 1st inversion C♯dim/E (E G C♯); 2nd inversion C♯dim/G (G C♯ E).
Is C♯ Diminished the same as D♭ dim?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold C♯dim and build a progression on it
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