C♯ diminished chord on guitar (C♯dim)

C♯dim is C♯, E and G. The easiest shape is x-4-2-0-2-0. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

x-4-2-0-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: C♯ · E · G
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
First shape: x-4-2-0-2-0

How to play C♯dim on guitar

Shape 1, x-4-2-0-2-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

E: index finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
C♯: middle finger, 2nd fret of the B string.
C♯: ring finger, 4th fret of the A string.
Leave the G and high E strings open: G and E.
Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.

Other ways to play C♯dim

x-4-5-6-5-x: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. This is the open Adim shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-x-11-9-8-9: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.
x-x-11-12-14-12: movable shape at the 11th fret, medium. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.

Moving between C♯dim and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold C♯dim for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

D (leads up a half step): C♯dim (x-4-2-0-2-0) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the high E string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. D on guitar
Dm (leads up a half step): C♯dim (x-4-2-0-2-0) to Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1): your index finger lands on the high E string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Dm on guitar
F♯m (iii in D major): C♯dim (x-4-2-0-2-0) to F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 4th fret, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Shared note: C♯. F♯m on guitar

C♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. C♯dim rarely stays long; it's a passing chord that usually climbs a half step to the next chord. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice C♯dim in two minutes

Arpeggiate x-4-2-0-2-0 from the lowest string: C♯, E, G, C♯, E. Then strum it and listen for the same 5 notes together. Finish by moving between x-4-2-0-2-0 and x-4-5-6-5-x to learn two positions of the same chord.

D♭dim is another spelling of C♯dim. Same shape, same sound.

C♯dim in context

C♯dim on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try C♯dim on ukulele or C♯dim on piano, or compare them on the C♯dim chord page.

Related C♯ chords on guitar

Other diminished chords

C♯dim on guitar: questions

What notes are in C♯dim on guitar?

C♯, E and G. In the x-4-2-0-2-0 shape the strings play C♯ (A string), E (D string), G (G string, open), C♯ (B string) and E (high E string, open), so C♯ and E are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play C♯dim on guitar?

x-4-2-0-2-0, the first shape on this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is C♯dim a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-4-2-0-2-0 needs no barre.

Which string does C♯dim start on?

In the x-4-2-0-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the A string at the 4th fret, which is C♯, the root. Skip the low E string.

Every shape above plays only C♯, E and G, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.