Cdim7 guitar chord
How to play Cdim7 on guitar — the notes C, E♭, G♭, B𝄫, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear Cdim7 strummed. Cdim7 is played as a barre chord around fret 3: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in Cdim7
A diminished seventh chord is spelled from its root up: C (R), E♭ (♭3), G♭ (♭5), B𝄫 (♭♭7). Those are the only notes in Cdim7 — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still Cdim7.
What a diminished seventh chord is
In plain terms, a diminished 7th stacks three minor thirds (root, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7) — perfectly symmetrical, so it can pivot to almost any key.
How it's used: A slippery passing chord: because every note is a minor third apart, one shape covers four different roots, and it can lead almost anywhere.
The sound: Maximum tension, mysterious, cinematic — the classic 'something's coming' chord. Where you'll hear it: Jazz passing chords, silent-film suspense, neoclassical metal, gypsy jazz.
Other C chords
diminished seventh chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open Cdim7 in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See Cdim7 on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in Cdim7?
Cdim7 is made of 4 notes: C (the R), E♭ (the ♭3), G♭ (the ♭5), B𝄫 (the ♭♭7).
How do you play Cdim7 on guitar?
Cdim7 is played as a barre chord around fret 3: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
When would I use Cdim7?
Jazz passing chords, silent-film suspense, neoclassical metal, gypsy jazz.