C♯dim7 chord
C♯dim7 is C♯, E, G and B♭: 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 built on C♯. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-4-5-3-5-x · movable · medium
- Notes
- C♯ · E · G · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- x-4-5-3-5-x
C♯dim7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · C♯–E–G–B♭ · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · E · G · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
C♯dim7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-1-0-1 · open · easy
- Notes
- C♯ · E · G · B♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- 0-1-0-1
Where C♯dim7 usually goes next
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- C♯dim7 → D (leads up a half step)
Guitar: C♯dim7 (x-4-5-3-5-x) to D (x-x-0-2-3-2): the index finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the B string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once.
Piano: C♯dim7 to D: play D in root position (D–F♯–A), while C♯ moves up to D, G down to F♯ and B♭ down to A. D - C♯dim7 → Dm (leads up a half step)
Guitar: C♯dim7 (x-4-5-3-5-x) to Dm (x-x-0-2-3-1): move the index finger to the high E string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd 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.
Piano: C♯dim7 to Dm: play Dm in root position (D–F–A), while C♯ moves up to D, E up to F and B♭ down to A. Dm - C♯dim7 → F♯ (a fifth down)
Guitar: C♯dim7 (x-4-5-3-5-x) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for C♯ and B♭, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: C♯dim7 to F♯: play F♯ in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A♯) and C♯ and A♯ stay under the same fingers, while G moves down to F♯. F♯
How C♯dim7 is built
C♯dim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. That symmetry means C♯dim7 contains exactly the same four notes as Edim7, Gdim7 and A♯dim7; which name you use depends on the bass note and the key.
Count keys (black and white) from C♯: 3 half steps up to E, 3 half steps up to G then 3 half steps up to B♭. D♭dim7 is the other spelling of the same chord.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | root | 0 | |
| E | minor third | 3 | |
| G | diminished fifth | 6 | |
| B♭ | diminished seventh | 9 |
Keys and progressions with C♯dim7
C♯dim7 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
Chords close to C♯dim7
- C♯dim7 is C♯dim plus B♭. C♯dim
Chords that share most of their notes with C♯dim7: Edim7, Gdim7, A♯dim7, C♯dim, Edim, Gdim.
Every C♯ chord
C♯dim7 chord: questions
What notes are in the C♯dim7 chord?
C♯, E, G and B♭. C♯dim7 is built 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 from C♯: E is the minor third, G is the diminished fifth and B♭ is the diminished seventh.
How do you play C♯dim7 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-4-5-3-5-x (movable). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play C♯dim7 on piano?
Play C♯, E, G and B♭ with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. C♯ sits on the black key between C and D. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play C♯dim7 on ukulele?
0-1-0-1 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is C♯dim7 in?
C♯dim7 isn't a chord of any major or natural minor key, so it usually appears as a passing or borrowed chord.
What's the difference between C♯dim7 and C♯dim?
C♯dim7 is C♯dim plus B♭.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes C♯, E, G and B♭ and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.