C# Diminished Piano Chord
Root
C#Min 3rd
Eb 5th
GE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C#
E
G
The Notes in a C# Diminished Chord
The Root
The root is the bottom note of the chord, the starting point to which the other notes relate. The root of a C# Diminished chord is C#.
The Min 3rd
The minor third of a C# Diminished chord is E. The minor third is up three half-steps from the Root.
Finding E from C# step by step:
- Start on: C#
- Step 1: move up to D
- Step 2: move up to D#
- Step 3: Land on E
Min 3rd
ERoot
C#1
2
- D is a minor second above C#.
- D# is a major 2nd above C#.
- E is a minor third above C#.
The b 5th
The flat fifth of a C# Diminished chord is G. The flat fifth is down six half-steps from the Root -- but it's easier to just think of it as a variation on the fifth. Once you know your fifths, the flat fifth and sharp fifth are a lot easier to find.
Finding G from C# step by step:
- Start on: C#
- Step 1: move down to B#
- Step 2: move down to B
- Step 3: move down to A#
- Step 4: move down to A
- Step 5: move down to G#
- Step 6: Land on G
b 5th
GRoot
C#1
2
3
4
5
- B# is a minor second below C#.
- B is a major 2nd below C#.
- A# is a minor third below C#.
- A is a major third below C#.
- G# is a fourth below C#.
- G is a flat fifth below C#.
The Inversions of C# Diminished
Root Position
Root
C#Min 3rd
Eb 5th
GE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
C#
E
G
1st Inversion
Min 3rd
Eb 5th
GRoot
C#E
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
E
G
C#
2nd Inversion
b 5th
GRoot
C#Min 3rd
EE
G
B
D
F
F
A
C
E
G
C#
E