Cdim7 Guitar Chord
Cdim7 is a diminished seventh chord. It is built from stacked minor thirds, so moving the same shape three frets up or down gives the same four notes. It is often used as a passing chord. Its notes are C, Eb, Gb and Bbb (= A). Below is one way to play it, with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.
Notes in Cdim7
| Note | Degree | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| C | R | Root |
| Eb | b3 | Minor 3rd |
| Gb | b5 | Diminished 5th |
| Bbb (= A) | bb7 | Diminished 7th |
Formula: 1–b3–b5–bb7
Bbb is the correct spelling of this note in this chord. On the guitar it is the same pitch as A.
Cdim7 chord shapes
Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.
Dim shape 2fr
Easiest- Tab (6th → 1st string)
- x 3 4 2 4 x
- Fingers
- – 2 3 1 4 –
How to play Cdim7 (easiest shape)
Shape: Dim shape 2fr, tab x 3 4 2 4 x (6th to 1st string).
- 1Put your index finger (1) on the 3rd string at the 2nd fret.
- 2Put your middle finger (2) on the 5th string at the 3rd fret.
- 3Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th string at the 4th fret.
- 4Put your pinky (4) on the 2nd string at the 4th fret.
- 5Don't play the 6th string.
- 6Keep the 1st string quiet: stop your strum at the 2nd string, or let a fretting finger touch it lightly.
- 7Strum down from the 5th string to the 2nd string.
Cdim7: common questions
- What notes are in the Cdim7 chord?
- Cdim7 has 4 notes: C, Eb, Gb and Bbb (= A). Counted from the root, that is 1–b3–b5–bb7.
- Is there an easier way to play Cdim7?
- The easiest shape on this page is "Dim shape 2fr" (x 3 4 2 4 x). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.
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