C♯ diminished chord on piano (C♯dim)
C♯dim is C♯, E and G. C♯ is the black key between C and D. Tap Play, then slow it down.
root position · C♯–E–G · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- C♯ · E · G
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
How to play C♯dim on piano
Start on C♯, count 3 half steps up to E then 3 half steps up to G. That's the whole chord: 3 keys.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on E and 5 on G.
- Left hand: 5 on C♯, 3 on E and 1 on G.
- On the keyboard it's black, white and white keys, the same pattern as F♯dim and G♯dim, so your hand shape carries over.
C♯dim inversions
- root position: C♯–E–G. Right hand 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: E–G–C♯, with E at the bottom. Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: G–C♯–E, with G at the bottom. RH 1-3-5.
Nobody plays every chord in root position. The inversions let C♯dim sit wherever the previous chord left your hand.
C♯dim chord changes
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 to D: play D in root position (D–F♯–A), while C♯ moves up to D, E up to F♯ and G up to A. D on piano
- Dm (leads up a half step): C♯dim to Dm: play Dm in root position (D–F–A), while C♯ moves up to D, E up to F and G up to A. Dm on piano
- F♯m (iii in D major): C♯dim to F♯m: play F♯m in 2nd inversion (C♯–F♯–A) and C♯ stays under the same finger, while E moves up to F♯ and G up to A. F♯m on piano
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 piano you hear it best with the keys pressed together, then rolled.
Getting C♯dim under your fingers
Roll the chord up and back down, C♯, E, G, E, C♯, before playing it as a block. Then climb the inversions: C♯–E–G, then E–G–C♯, then G–C♯–E.
The keys of C♯dim
C♯dim is a diminished chord, 1–♭3–♭5 from C♯. Root position, from the bottom: how C♯dim is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| C♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| E | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | minor third |
| G | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | diminished fifth |
Written D♭dim, it's the same chord with the same keys.
Keys and progressions with C♯dim
C♯dim on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try C♯dim on ukulele or C♯dim on guitar, or compare them on the C♯dim chord page.
Next to try on piano
Other diminished chords
C♯dim on piano: questions
What notes are in C♯dim on piano?
C♯, E and G: C♯ (black key), E (white key) and G (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play C♯dim on piano?
Press C♯, E and G together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on C♯, 3 on E and 5 on G.
What are the inversions of C♯dim?
1st inversion (E–G–C♯) and 2nd inversion (G–C♯–E), after root position (C♯–E–G). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does C♯dim look like on the keyboard?
black, white and white keys, the same pattern as F♯dim and G♯dim, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Every shape above plays only C♯, E and G, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.