C sharp diminished piano chord (C#dim)
Also written Dbdim (D flat diminished)
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♯ (C sharp) | root |
| E | minor third |
| G | 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.