C♯ diminished chord on piano

C♯dim · C♯° — a tense chord of two minor thirds that wants to move on.

Notes	C♯ – E – G
Formula	1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Symbols	C♯dim, C♯°
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play C♯ diminished on the piano

Start on C♯. Add the third (E) and the fifth (G). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays C♯ diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

C♯ – E – G · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

E – G – C♯ · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

G – C♯ – E · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use C♯ diminished

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

vii° in D major
ii° in B minor

Other C♯ chords

D♭ major C♯ minor D♭ augmented D♭ sus2 D♭ sus4 D♭6 D♭7 D♭ major seventh C♯ minor seventh C♯ diminished seventh C♯ half-diminished

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