C Diminished
Hear the C Diminished chord played for you.
C°
C – E♭ – G♭
Formula:R-m3-d5
Intervals:P1-m3-d5
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5
Introduction
The C Diminished chord is a three-note chord made up of C, E♭, and G♭. It is built from a root, minor third, and diminished fifth.
The C Diminished piano chord (Cdim) consists of the notes C, Eb, Gb. It is built by stacking two minor thirds (3 semitones each), giving it a tense, unstable, and dissonant character. Formula: R-m3-d5 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5.
Notes
C Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | C – E♭ – G♭ |
| 1st Inversion | E♭ – G♭ – C |
| 2nd Inversion | G♭ – C – E♭ |
Key Signature
The key of C Diminished has no sharps or flats. Every note is natural, which makes it the easiest key signature to read on the staff.
Chords in the Key of C Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the C major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — C Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5
Intervals: P1-m3-d5
The C Diminished is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5 show the distance between each note in the chord.
C Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the C Diminished chord?
The C Diminished chord contains: C (root), Eb (minor third), and Gb (diminished fifth). Both intervals are compressed: the minor third is 3 semitones above the root, and the diminished fifth is 6 semitones — a tritone.
How does C Diminished differ from C Minor?
C Minor has a perfect fifth. C Diminished lowers the fifth by one semitone to Gb (diminished fifth). That extra compression creates intense harmonic tension — the tritone between root and diminished fifth is the most dissonant interval in Western music.
What is the symbol for the C Diminished?
C Diminished is written as Cdim or C°. The ° or "dim" symbol means both the third and fifth are minor/diminished. Do not confuse with Cdim7 or Cø (half-diminished), which include additional notes.
What are the inversions of C Diminished?
First inversion (C Diminished/Eb): Eb–Gb–C. Second inversion (C Diminished/Gb): Gb–C–Eb. Diminished triads are used in classical music as the vii° chord — the chord one semitone below the tonic, with strong resolution pull.
How is C Diminished used in music?
C Diminished most commonly functions as the vii° chord in a major key, creating strong resolution back to the tonic. It also works as a chromatic passing chord between two nearby chords, and in classical music as a brief point of dissonance. Jazz uses the full four-note dim7 more often than the triad.
What songs use diminished chords?
Michelle (Beatles) uses a diminished chord as a chromatic passing chord. Many classical pieces use vii°–I cadences. Jazz standards use dim7 chords as chromatic passing and approach chords. Diminished harmony also appears in flamenco and film music for dramatic tension.
Practice Tips
- Compare C Minor and C Diminished: only the fifth changes (Gb vs perfect fifth). Play both back to back — the extra compression is striking.
- The tritone between C and Gb creates maximum tension — practice just this two-note interval to hear its characteristic sound.
- C Diminished most naturally resolves up by half step: play Cdim then a chord whose root is C raised by one semitone.
- Practice all inversions: C–Eb–Gb, Eb–Gb–C, Gb–C–Eb.
- Use C Diminished as a vii° chord: it is one semitone below C# Major — try Cdim → C# Major to feel this powerful classical resolution.
- In a major key, find where C Diminished fits naturally as a passing chord between two diatonic chords a step apart.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.