Cdim chord with C Diminished Whole-Half scale

Pairing the Cdim chord (Diminished) with the C Diminished Whole-Half scale: formulas, fretboard voicings and the practical context for soloing, improvisation and songwriting.

Cdim chord formula

Interval formula: 1 b3 b5. A diminished triad — root, minor 3rd and flat 5th. A tense, unstable chord that wants to resolve.

C Diminished Whole-Half scale formula

Formula: 1 2 b3 4 b5 #5 6 7. Classification: symmetric.

Fretboard voicings for Cdim

Curated Cdim shapes that sit naturally inside the C Diminished Whole-Half scale.

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Cdim — A shape, frets 2–6
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Cdim — G shape, frets 3–8
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Cdim — E shape, frets 6–11
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Cdim — D shape, frets 10–14
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Cdim — C shape, frets 10–16

Other scales for Cdim

Compare how the same chord behaves over other compatible modes.

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