C diminished piano chord (Cdim)
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: root, minor third, diminished fifth. Tense and unstable, it is mostly used as a passing chord.
On the keyboard
Root position
- Notes
- C – E♭ – G♭
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
1st inversion
- Notes
- E♭ – G♭ – C
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 2 – 5
2nd inversion
- Notes
- G♭ – C – E♭
- Fingering (right hand)
- 1 – 3 – 5
Chord notes
| Note | Interval |
|---|---|
| C | root |
| E♭ (E flat) | minor third |
| G♭ (G flat) | diminished fifth |
Formula: 1 – b3 – b5 · C – E♭ – G♭
A progression with this chord
The diminished chord works as a passing chord to the chord a semitone above.