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Guitar chord reference

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. Read each movable voicing as a set of chord tones, not simply as a copied open shape.

C shape

11fr×1♭3♭51♭3

A shape

2fr×1♭51♭3♭5

G shape

4fr1♭3♭51♭31

E shape

7fr1♭51♭3♭51

D shape

10fr××1♭51♭3

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.

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