Triads
C# Diminished chord
Two stacked minor thirds. Tense and unresolved, it usually works as a passing chord that pushes somewhere else.
Notes in C# Diminished
| Note | Interval | Semitones from root |
|---|---|---|
| C# | Root | 0 |
| E | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| G | Tritone | 6 |
Formula: 0–3–6 semitones above the root. Move the whole shape up or down and you get the same chord in another key — that is why Diminished chords sound alike no matter where they start.
Other chords on C#
C# MajorC# MinorC# AugmentedC# Major 7thC# Minor 7thC# Dominant 7thC# Diminished 7thC# Half-Diminished 7th
Want to hear C# Diminished inside a progression? Load a key in the chord progression generator or browse the scales reference.
Practise this chord by ear
ChordCraft Lab turns this reference into practice: daily chord puzzles, adaptive quizzes and ear training on a playable keyboard. 14-day free trial, then $7/month.
Start free trial