Electric guitar · Diminished chord

Cdim Diminished

Key: C# Major
Medium

Cdim is the C diminished chord on electric guitar, made of the notes C · D# · F# · A.

Position 1 of 5Main

Notes

C
D#
F#
A

Structure

1
♭3
♭5

Sound: Diminished; Unstable, dramatic
Harmonic function: Dominant; Creates tension that resolves to the tonic.

Harmonic field of C# Major

Degree	Chord	Function
I	C#	Tonic
ii	D#m	Subdominant
iii	Fm	Tonic relative
IV	F#	Subdominant
V	G#	Dominant
vi	A#m	Tonic relative
vii°	Cdim	Dominant

How to play

1Place your index finger on fret 3 of string 5.
2Place your middle finger on fret 4 of string 4.
3Place your ring finger on fret 4 of string 2.
4Place your pinky on fret 5 of string 3.
5Don't play strings 6, 1.
6Strum from string 5 down.