Piano chords · Diminished chord

Cdim piano chord (C diminished)

Cdim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.

CE♭G♭

C – E♭ – G♭ · tap any key to hear it

The notes of Cdim

Cdim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):

C, the root
E♭, the minor third
G♭, the diminished fifth

E♭ and G♭ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.

Fingering

Right hand: 1 on C, 3 on E♭, 5 on G♭.
Left hand: 5 on C, 3 on E♭, 1 on G♭.

Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.

Inversions

An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.

Position	Notes, bottom to top
Root position	C – E♭ – G♭
1st inversion	E♭ – G♭ – C
2nd inversion	G♭ – C – E♭

Where Cdim belongs

Cdim is the vii° chord in D♭ major, the chord that leads up a half step to D♭.

Cdim is Cm with the fifth lowered a half step (G becomes G♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.

Hear it in a progression

D♭ – G♭ – Cdim – D♭: I – IV – vii° – I in D♭ major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.

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Questions people ask

What notes are in the Cdim chord?

Cdim (C diminished) is made of C, E♭ and G♭: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.

How do you play Cdim on piano?

With your right hand, use fingers 1 on C, 3 on E♭, 5 on G♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on C, 3 on E♭, 1 on G♭.

How is Cdim different from the plain chord?