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C Diminished Piano Chord

Root
C
Min 3rd
Eb
b 5th
Gb
PLAY
→
←
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
Eb
Gb

The Notes in a C Diminished Chord

The Root

The root is the bottom note of the chord, the starting point to which the other notes relate. The root of a C Diminished chord 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
Eb
Root
C
1
2
PLAY
  • 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
Gb
Root
C
1
2
3
4
5
PLAY
  • 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
C
Min 3rd
Eb
b 5th
Gb
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C
Eb
Gb

1st Inversion

Min 3rd
Eb
b 5th
Gb
Root
C
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
Eb
Gb
C

2nd Inversion

b 5th
Gb
Root
C
Min 3rd
Eb
PLAY
E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
Gb
C
Eb

Other Diminished Chords

Cdim, C#dim, Dbdim, Ddim, D#dim, Ebdim, Edim, Fdim, F#dim, Gbdim, Gdim, G#dim, Abdim, Adim, A#dim, Bbdim, Bdim

See all diminished chords

Other C Chords

C, Cm, Cdim, C+, CM7, Cm7, C7, Cdim7

See a list of 34 C chords