Explore chords · Ukulele
C♯ diminished chord on ukulele (C♯dim)
Also called or written C♯dim or C♯°
C♯ diminished contains C♯, E, and G. The 6th-fret shape mutes the E string even though it is a chord tone, to preserve the voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
How do you play a C♯ diminished chord on ukulele?
C♯ diminished is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 × 7: index finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 7. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 2 | G (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (♭3) |
IntermediateThe ring finger must reach the A string at fret 7 while the middle finger holds the C string at fret 7, and the E string must be muted.
C♯dim/G inversion · 9-7-9-7
C♯ diminished is played at the 7th fret as 9 7 9 7: ring finger on the G string at fret 9, index finger on the C string at fret 7, pinky finger on the E string at fret 9 and middle finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 1 | G (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (♭3) |
Open
C♯ diminished is played in open position as 0 1 0 ×: index finger on the C string at fret 1. The G and E strings ring open. The A string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | muted | — | — |
C♯dim/G inversion · ×-7-9-7
C♯ diminished is played at the 7th fret as × 7 9 7: index finger on the C string at fret 7, ring finger on the E string at fret 9 and middle finger on the A string at fret 7. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 1 | G (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 3 | C♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 2 | E (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
C♯ diminished is built from the 1, ♭3, ♭5 formula. The ♭5 interval gives the chord its dissonant quality. Compare it to C♯ minor, which raises the fifth to G♯.
What goes wrong with C♯ diminished?
- Letting the open E string ring through, which changes the voicing.
- Flattening the ring finger onto the E string, muting it unintentionally.
When to use it
C♯ diminished works as a passing chord in B natural minor or D major. It suits tense, suspenseful moments in rock and jazz.
Changing to and from C♯ diminished
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 4th fret gives B diminished.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 7th fret gives D diminished.
Which voicing to use
The 6th-fret shape keeps C♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The C♯dim/E inversion puts E in the bass, which softens the dissonance slightly.
Other C♯ chords
Common questions
How is C♯ diminished written?
C♯ diminished is written C♯° or C♯dim. The ASCII root spelling is C#. It is also spelled D♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between C♯ diminished and C♯ minor?
C♯ diminished lowers the fifth from G♯ to G, creating a tritone. C♯ minor keeps the perfect fifth G♯.
Why is the E string muted in the 6th-fret shape if E is a chord tone?
The E string is muted to preserve the intended bass note and voicing. The open E would change the inversion.