Electric guitar · Diminished chord

C#dimC# Diminished

Key: D Major
Easy
Open chord

C#dim is the C# diminished chord on electric guitar, made of the notes C# · E · B · G · D.

Notes

C#
E
B
G
D

Structure

1
♭3
♭5

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

Harmonic field of D Major

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

How to play

1Place your index finger on fret 4 of string 5.
2Let strings 6, 4, 3, 2, 1 ring open.
3Strum all the strings.