C Diminished Piano Chord
Root
CMin 3rd
Ebb 5th
GbE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
Eb
Gb
The Notes in a C Diminished Chord
The Root
This is one is easy. All you have to do to find the root of a chord is look at the name of the chord. It's the first part of the name! If it's a C Diminished chord, the root is C!
The Min 3rd
The minor third of a C Diminished chord is Eb. The minor third is up three half-steps from the Root.
Finding Eb from C step by step:
- Start on: C
- Step 1: move up to Db
- Step 2: move up to D
- Step 3: Land on Eb
Min 3rd
EbRoot
C1
2
- Db is a minor second above C.
- D is a major 2nd above C.
- Eb is a minor third above C.
The b 5th
The flat fifth of a C Diminished chord is Gb. The flat fifth is down six half-steps from the Root -- but it's easier to just think of it as a variation on the fifth. Once you know your fifths, the flat fifth and sharp fifth are a lot easier to find.
Finding Gb from C step by step:
- Start on: C
- Step 1: move down to B
- Step 2: move down to Bb
- Step 3: move down to A
- Step 4: move down to Ab
- Step 5: move down to G
- Step 6: Land on Gb
b 5th
GbRoot
C1
2
3
4
5
- B is a minor second below C.
- Bb is a major 2nd below C.
- A is a minor third below C.
- Ab is a major third below C.
- G is a fourth below C.
- Gb is a flat fifth below C.
The Inversions of C Diminished
Root Position
Root
CMin 3rd
Ebb 5th
GbE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
Eb
Gb
1st Inversion
Min 3rd
Ebb 5th
GbRoot
CE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
Eb
Gb
C
2nd Inversion
b 5th
GbRoot
CMin 3rd
EbE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
Gb
C
Eb