Cdim chord on piano
C diminished: C · E♭ · G♭. It sounds tense and unstable: it exists to move somewhere else.
NotesC E♭ G♭
Built fromroot + minor 3rd + diminished 5th
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On the keyboard
Fingering
Right hand, root position: C — finger 1 · E♭ — finger 3 · G♭ — finger 5. (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger.)
Inversions
The same notes in a different order. Inversions are how players move between chords without jumping:
- RootC – E♭ – G♭
- 1stE♭ – G♭ – C
- 2ndG♭ – C – E♭
Songs that use Cdim
Scott JoplinThe Entertainer
C major · Intermediate
J.S. BachPrelude in C minor (WTC I)
C minor · Intermediate
SchumannDes Abends
Db major · Advanced
J.S. BachBWV 807: The English Suites II Prelude
A minor · Advanced
J.S. BachFugue in E Minor BWV 914 By
E minor · Advanced
J.S. BachPrelude in C minor - BWV 999
C minor · Beginner