C♯dim
C♯ Diminished
1 ♭3 ♭5

Notes in C♯dim

C♯R
E♭3
G♭5

The C♯dim chord contains 3 notes: C♯, E, G

Intervals

IntervalSemitonesNoteFunction
R0C♯Root
♭33EMinor 3rd
♭56GDiminished 5th

About C♯ Diminished Chords

Diminished chords stack two minor 3rds, creating a tense, unstable sound. They often function as passing chords or leading tones — a B diminished chord naturally pulls toward C major. In film scores, diminished chords signal tension and danger.

Compatible Scales & Modes

These scales contain all the notes of C♯dim and can be used for soloing, improvising, and writing melodies over this chord.

C♯ Locrian
The natural mode for diminished chords — though rarely used for extended soloing.
Whole-Half Diminished Scale
The symmetric scale built for diminished harmony — 8 notes alternating whole and half steps.

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