The C Diminished chord contains C, E♭, G♭. Formula: 1–♭3–♭5.
Start with C minor: C–E♭–G. Keep C and E♭, then lower G to G♭. The result is C diminished: C–E♭–G♭.
Preserve the written note spelling shown for this chord.
Choose a position to keep the written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
Cdim uses 1–♭3–♭5: C–E♭–G♭.
Compared with C minor, lower the fifth by one semitone.
The chord tones stay the same while the lowest chord tone changes.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | Cdim | C4–E♭4–G♭4 | C4 |
| First inversion | Cdim/E♭ | E♭4–G♭4–C5 | E♭4 |
| Second inversion | Cdim/G♭ | G♭4–C5–E♭5 | G♭4 |
Fingerings are not included on this page. The diagram shows note positions, not a prescribed hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: diminished triad formula and written tone spelling
Scope: Supports the chord formula and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
C, E♭, G♭.
1–♭3–♭5.
No. The root stays the same; the lowest chord tone changes.
Select the three pitch classes that make Cdim, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks pitch classes. Order and octave do not affect the result; fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: C–E♭–G♭ · Formula: 1, ♭3, ♭5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.