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C♯dim chord on guitar

C♯dim (C♯ diminished) is C♯, E and G. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x4565x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 2nd string, 5th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 6th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

C♯dim

C♯ diminished · C♯ E G · 1 ♭3 ♭5

  • 4th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    4fr1243C♯GC♯E

    x4565x

  • 9th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    9fr1231C♯GC♯E

    9-10-11-9-x-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are C♯, the root.

How to play C♯dim

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 4th fret

    x4565x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 2nd string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 6th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 9th fret

    9-10-11-9-x-x
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 6th to 3rd strings at the 9th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 10th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 11th fret.
    • Mute the 2nd and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the C♯dim chord

C♯dim is C♯, E and G, and it sounds tense and unstable: it wants to resolve a half step up. From C♯, count 3 half steps up to E and 3 more to G. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with C♯ lowest. See its inversions and keys on the C♯dim piano chord page.

Chords that often come after C♯dim

Dxx0232C♯dim is the vii° of D: it climbs a half step and resolves there.Dmxx0231The same half-step climb into Dm, in the minor key.F♯7242322C♯dim to F♯7 is ii° to V7, on the way home in a minor key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on C♯

D♭C♯mC♯7D♭maj7C♯m7C♯sus2C♯sus4D♭add9C♯9D♭6C♯m7♭5C♯dim7D♭aug

Diminished chords on other notes

CdimDdimD♯dimEdimFdimF♯dimGdimG♯dimAdimA♯dimBdim

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play C♯dim on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x4565x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 4th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 2nd string, 5th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 6th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the C♯dim chord?

C♯dim is C♯, E and G. In the shape written x4565x, the 5th to 2nd strings play C♯, G, C♯ and E.

Is C♯dim a barre chord?

It doesn't have to be: x4565x needs no barre. The barre shape (9-10-11-9-x-x) plays it higher up the neck and moves to any root.

How many ways can you play C♯dim on guitar?

This page shows two: x4565x (4th fret) and 9-10-11-9-x-x (9th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with C♯dim?

Yes. “Make a beat in D major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D major on D A Bm G, the key where C♯dim is the vii° chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in D major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D major on D A Bm G, the key where C♯dim is the vii° chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in D majorAll guitar chords

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