x 3 4 5 4 x
C diminished
Notes: C · Eb · Gb
Triads
Suspended
Sevenths
Extensions
Other shapes (12)
Showing 12 of 12
x 3 1 x 1 2
x 3 4 x 4 2
x 3 1 x 4 2
8 9 10 8 x x
x 3 x 5 4 2
x x 10 8 7 8
8 6 x 8 7 x
8 9 x 8 7 x
8 6 x 5 7 x
8 x 10 8 7 x
8 9 10 8 x 11
About C diminished
The C diminished chord is made up of C (root), Eb (minor third) and Gb (diminished fifth). In scale degrees above the root, the formula is 1 – b3 – b5. Its diminished fifth adds a marked tension; it works as a passing chord, very common in jazz and classical music.
C diminished has no standard open shape in the CAGED system, so its 12 voicings are sorted only by difficulty and position on the neck.