CifraLab

Cdim7 Guitar Chord

Cdim7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Cdim7Guitar fingering diagram for Cdim71234×2413×STRING6ª×5ªC4ªF#3ªA2ªD#1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets Cdim7 apart

Cdim7 is built from C, Eb, Gb and Bbb. C is the root, Eb the minor third, Gb the flat fifth and Bbb the diminished seventh. Said aloud, its notes are C, E flat, G flat and B double flat. Each note sits three semitones above the one before. Slide the same shape three frets and you get the same notes.

String by string, low to high, it plays C, Gb, Bbb and Eb. It runs from C on string 5 up to Eb on string 2.

Cdim7 uses no barre and no open strings, so you can slide the shape up the neck without changing fingers. Strings 6 and 1 stay silent. Your hand covers three frets, from 2 to 4. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 1 and 7.

Change only string 3 in Cdim7 and you have Cm7b5. Cdim7 and Ab have C and Eb in common. F shares two positions with this shape.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704A A - F#m - Bm - E7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Cdim7)

Formula: Diminished Seventh (1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7)
Constituent chord intervals:

C 1Eb ♭3Gb ♭5Bbb 𝄫7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 3 (C)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Cdim7:

01

Root on string 5

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 3Finger 2
CDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 4Finger 4
F#
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 1
A
2nd String (B)
Fret 4Finger 3
D#
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 4 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 4 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

02

Fret 1

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
4th String (D)
Fret 1Finger 1
D#
3rd String (G)
Fret 2Finger 3
A
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 2
CDegree 1
1st String (High E)
Fret 2Finger 4
F#

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Middle finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 2 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

03

Root on string 6

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 8Finger 2
CDegree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 7Finger 1
A
3rd String (G)
Fret 8Finger 3
D#
2nd String (B)
Fret 7Finger 1
F#
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 8 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 7 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 8 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 7 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Cdim7)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets2 to 4
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted6th and 1st

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Cdim7

Listen: Cdim7 → F · Em · C

  1. Cdim7
  2. F
  3. Cdim7
  4. Em
  5. Cdim7
  6. C
Cdim7 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1
Cdim7 → Em02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Cdim7 → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Cdim7 in every key

This chord type does not belong naturally to a major or minor scale: it is used as colour or passing tension.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
3/5
Highest fret
4
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
4

Cdim7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Cdim7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Cdim7 chord?

To play the Cdim7 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 5 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Cdim7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Cdim7 chord is its root note: C. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 3.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Cdim7 chord and what is its formula?

The Cdim7 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7 formula (Diminished Seventh). Its constituent pitches are C, Eb, Gb, Bbb.

How do you prevent the Cdim7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Cdim7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Cdim7 chord diagram

Cdim7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the C family:

Chord C Chord C#m Chord Cm Chord C7 Chord Cmaj7 Chord C#m7 Chord Cm7 Chord Csus2