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Chord chart for C diminished / E♭ (1st inversion) Guitar Chord: Notes, Shapes & Bass Note | Guitar Wiz

Cdim/E♭ guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 22 playable shapes

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C diminished / E♭ (1st inversion) guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

C diminished / E♭ (1st inversion)

Cdim/E♭ is the C diminished / E♭ (1st inversion) guitar chord with E♭ in the bass. It uses the notes C, E♭, and G♭ and the interval formula 1-♭3-♭5.

The C diminished diminished chord is built from minor thirds, including a diminished fifth G♭, producing a tense, unstable sound. This dissonant, unresolved tension is commonly used for dramatic transitions, suspenseful moments, or eerie atmospheres in classical, jazz, and film music. With E♭ in the bass, this voicing functions as the 1st inversion of C diminished.

Also written as Cdim, Co/E♭, and Cm♭5/E♭.

Root note: C
Bass note: E♭
Chord tones: 3
Playable shapes: 22

Chord tones

CE♭G♭

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape xxdbdb

xxdbdb

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 4th string down.

Shape xxdbde

xxdbde

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string.
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 14th fret of the 1st string.
  5. 5 Strum from the 4th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

C Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

E♭ Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

G♭ Diminished Fifth ♭5

The flattened fifth adds tension and a restless, unstable edge.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

Cdim/E♭ shape xxdbdb

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Cdim/E♭ shape xxdbde

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 14th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Cdim/E♭ shape xx1x12

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fifth, and third strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

Cdim/E♭ shape x645xx

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, second, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the third string

Cdim/E♭ shape x6454x

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 4th fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 4th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and first strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the second string

Cdim/E♭ shape x6x57x

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 5th fret of the 3rd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fourth, and first strings
  5. 5 Strum from the fifth string down to the second string

Cdim/E♭ shape x6x878

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 6th fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Do not play the sixth and fourth strings
  6. 6 Strum from the fifth string down to the first string

Cdim/E♭ shape xxx878

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 7th fret of the 2nd string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Do not play the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings
  5. 5 Strum from the third string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Cdim/E♭?

Cdim/E♭ uses the notes C, E♭, and G♭. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-♭5.

What is another name for Cdim/E♭?

Cdim/E♭ is also written as Cdim, Co/E♭, and Cm♭5/E♭.

How do you play Cdim/E♭ on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 11th fret of the 3rd string. Place the 2nd finger on the 11th fret of the 1st string. Place the 3rd finger on the 13th fret of the 4th string. Place the 4th finger on the 13th fret of the 2nd string. Strum from the 4th string down.

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