Guitar chord reference
C Diminished guitar chord: five CAGED shapes
A diminished triad stacks two minor thirds: root, minor 3rd and flattened 5th. Its compact tension often connects stronger harmonies and benefits from precise chord-tone awareness.
Chord construction and function
Both ♭3 and ♭5 pull away from stability. The flattened 5th is the critical difference from a minor triad and should be identified in every voicing.
- Chord formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- Notes in Cdim
- C · E♭ · G♭
Cdim in CAGED neck order
Root notes are highlighted. Each region uses a compact playable voicing, with muted strings, suggested fingers and barres shown explicitly.
C shape
Fingers: × · 1 · 2 · 3 · 2 · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 4 · strings 4–2
A shape
Fingers: × · 1 · 2 · 3 · 2 · ×
Finger 2 barre · fret 4 · strings 4–2
G shape
Fingers: 1 · 2 · 3 · 1 · × · ×
Finger 1 barre · fret 8 · strings 6–3
E shape
Fingers: 1 · 2 · 3 · 1 · × · ×
Finger 1 barre · fret 8 · strings 6–3
D shape
Fingers: × · × · 1 · 2 · 3 · 2
Finger 2 barre · fret 11 · strings 3–1
Practice drill
Compare diminished and minor forms on the same root, changing only the 5th where possible. Move through the five shapes and resolve each voicing to a nearby major or minor chord.
Follow the guitar chord practice guide for clean placement, timed changes and connected CAGED movement.
Learn how the five movable forms overlap, where their roots sit and when to use partial voicings in the CAGED system guide.
Open the chord randomiser