How to play the Cdim chord on guitar

The Cdim chord, pronounced "C diminished," is a triad with a unique, tense sound. It's built from the root note, minor third, and diminished fifth, giving it a darker, more unsettling character compared to major or minor chords. Cdim is often used in jazz and classical music to create dissonance and add complexity to chord progressions, and can be found in numerous popular songs.

The most common way to play the Cdim chord on guitar is on the 1st fret as a barre chord.

Follow these finger positions to play a Cdim chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger on the 1st fret, barring all six strings.
2. Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 4th (D) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd (G) string.

To strum the Cdim chord, use your pick or thumb to strum downward, hitting all six strings simultaneously. Alternatively, you can fingerpick the individual strings for a more delicate sound.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Cdim chord, try playing a basic open position C chord (x32010) and lift your middle finger off the 2nd fret of the D string. This creates a "Cdim7" chord, which has a similar sound to Cdim but is easier to play.

The Cdim chord is not commonly played as a barre chord on guitar. The standard Cdim chord shape is already quite simple and easy to play, so there's no real advantage to using a barre chord version. Most guitarists just use the open Cdim chord shape.

The Cdim chord adds a sense of tension and unease to progressions, often serving as a passing chord between more stable harmony. Its dissonant nature can evoke feelings of mystery, suspense, or even a haunting atmosphere. Some common Cdim chord progressions include:

• i - idim - V7 - i (Cm - Cdim - G7 - Cm) Used in "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "I'll See You in My Dreams"
• I - #idim - ii - V (C - C#dim - Dm - G)
• iv - #ivdim - V (Fm - F#dim - G) Used in "I Got Rhythm"
• I - vi - iidim - V (C - Am - Ddim - G)
• I - bIIIdim - ii - V (C - Ebdim - Dm - G)

To master the Cdim guitar chord, try playing the chord as whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes. Focus on maintaining even pressure and clean transitions between each strum. Repeat this drill until you can play the chord consistently and confidently.

Another effective drill is to practice transitioning between Cdim and other common chords, such as C, Am, and G. Start slowly and gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable with the changes. This will help you integrate the Cdim chord into your playing more smoothly.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Cdim chord.

1. All of Me by John Legend (Ab, Fm, Cdim, Eb)
2. Rocket Man by Elton John (Gm7, C7, Fmaj7, Bbmaj7, Ebmaj7, Abmaj7, Dm7, Cdim)
3. Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton (A7sus4, Asus2, A7, Bm7, Cdim, Dm7, Fm6)
4. Space Oddity by David Bowie (Fmaj7, Em7, A7, Dm, C, Bb, Cdim)
5. Moonlight Sonata by Ludwig van Beethoven (C#m, G#, C#, F#, G#7, C#7, F#m, Cdim)
6. My Funny Valentine by Richard Rodgers (Em7, Am7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm7, Bb7, Ebmaj7, Cdim)
7. Daydream by The Lovin' Spoonful (G, E7, Am7, D7, Gmaj7, Bm7, Em7, Cdim)
8. Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael (Dm7, G7, Em7, A7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Fm7, Cdim)
9. Love Letters by Ketty Lester (C, Am, Dm, G7, C7, F, Fm, Cdim)
10. You Must Believe in Spring by Michel Legrand (Bbmaj7, Eb7, Abmaj7, Dm7b5, Cdim, Cm7, F7)