C#dim7 Guitar Chord (C Sharp Diminished 7th)

Q: What notes are in the C#dim7 chord?

C♯dim7 has 4 notes: C♯, E, G and B♭ . Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7: C♯ is the root, E a minor 3rd, G a diminished 5th and B♭ a diminished 7th above it.

Q: How do you play C#dim7 on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx2323 (at the 2nd fret). Put your index finger (1) on the 2nd fret of the D (4th) string. Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the G (3rd) string. Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the B (2nd) string. Put your little finger (4) on the 3rd fret of the high E (1st) string. Don't play the low E (6th) or A (5th) strings (marked X). Strum from the D (4th) string down (4 strings).

The C#dim7 guitar chord (C sharp diminished 7th, also written D♭dim7) has 4 notes: C♯, E, G and B♭. Below you'll find 4 shapes with diagrams, how to play it step by step, easier options, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

xx2323 · at the 2nd fret

Notes: C♯ – E – G – B♭
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7
Type: diminished 7th
Also written: D♭dim7
Difficulty: medium

Transpose a song

All 4 ways to play C#dim7 on guitar

xx2323 at the 2nd fret
x45353 at the 3rd fret
9x898x at the 8th fret
x-x-11-12-11-12 at the 11th fret

Diagrams: strings run from the lowest on the left; X = don't play, O = open string, numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger).

How to play C#dim7 on guitar

Main shape: xx2323 (at the 2nd fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 2nd fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the B (2nd) string.
Put your little finger (4) on the 3rd fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th) or A (5th) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (4 strings).

C#dim7 notes and intervals

Note	Formula	Interval from the root
C♯	1	root
E	♭3	minor 3rd
G	♭5	diminished 5th
B♭	𝄫7	diminished 7th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: C♯dim7/E (1st inversion), C♯dim7/G (2nd inversion) and C♯dim7/B♭ (3rd inversion).

Easier ways to play C#dim7

Play C♯dim instead: it keeps C♯, E and G and leaves out B♭.

C#dim7 on piano and ukulele

C♯dim7 on piano C♯ – E – G – B♭
C♯dim7 on ukulele 0101

Which keys use C#dim7?

C♯dim7 is one of the basic chords of 1 key. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

Key	Written	Numeral	Function
D minor	C♯°7	vii°7	dominant (harmonic minor)

Transpose C#dim7

Move the chord up or down by semitones to see its name and notes in another key.

C♯dim7 C♯ E G B♭ original

Diminished 7th chords on every root: A♭dim7 Adim7 B♭dim7Bdim7 Cdim7 C♯dim7 Ddim7 E♭dim7 Edim7Fdim7 F♯dim7 Gdim7

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the C#dim7 chord?

C♯dim7 has 4 notes: C♯, E, G and B♭. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7: C♯ is the root, E a minor 3rd, G a diminished 5th and B♭ a diminished 7th above it.

Is C#dim7 the same as Dbdim7?

Yes. C♯ and D♭ are two names for the same note (the same piano key and the same fret), so C♯dim7 and D♭dim7 sound the same and use the same shapes.

What key is C#dim7 in?

C♯dim7 is vii°7 in D minor (harmonic minor, with the raised 7th). The other chords of D minor are Dm, E°, F, Gm, Am and B♭.

How do you play C#dim7 on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx2323 (at the 2nd fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 2nd fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 3rd fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the B (2nd) string.
Put your little finger (4) on the 3rd fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th) or A (5th) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (4 strings).

Is C#dim7 hard to play on guitar?

It is a medium chord: the easiest shape (xx2323) has no barre and uses 4 fingers. (Difficulty here is a rough guide based on barres, stretches and the number of fingers.)

Is there an easy way to play C#dim7?

Play C♯dim instead: it keeps C♯, E and G and leaves out B♭.

More chords

Last updated: October 12, 2026