C♯ diminished 7th chord on piano
C♯dim7 is a diminished 7th chord built on C♯. It uses the notes C♯ - E - G - B♭ and sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic silent-movie villain chord. It is also written as D♭ diminished 7th.
- Notes
- C♯ E G B♭
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- C♯dim7
How to play C♯dim7 step by step
- Find C♯. C♯ is the first black key in each group of two. The same key is also called D♭.
- Add E, 3 half steps above C♯.
- Add G, 6 half steps above C♯.
- Add B♭, 9 half steps above C♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
C♯dim7 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the C♯ diminished 7th chord?
The C♯ diminished 7th chord (C♯dim7) contains 4 notes: C♯, E, G, B♭. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7.
How do you play C♯dim7 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on C♯ and play C♯, E, G, B♭ together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is C♯ diminished 7th the same as D♭ diminished 7th?
Yes. C♯ diminished 7th and D♭ diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.