C diminished triad for guitar (Cdim)
Notes, positions, and inversions of the C diminished triad (Cdim) on the guitar fretboard: C · D# · F#.
Instrument
Root
Chord
Position (CAGED)
Strings
Toggle individual strings
Frets15
1224
Chord
Cdim
CD#F#
E
B
G
D
A
E
Scroll horizontally to see the whole fretboard
Legend
C
Root
· R
D#
Third
· ♭3
F#
Fifth
· ♭5
Inversions
(strings 1·2·3)Root position
fret 3
1st inversion
fret 8
2nd inversion
fret 12
C diminished
The C diminished triad is made up of three notes: C · D# · F#.
It sounds unstable and dissonant, and rarely ends a musical phrase -- instead it's used as a passing chord (typically on the vii degree) to build tension before a resolution.