Cdim

General info

Full name

C Diminished

Symbol

Cdim

Root

C

Quality

Diminished

Chord notes

Functions & resolutions

Typical function in key

vii°Leading tone (vii°)C# major

Stability / tension

Maximum tension — extremely unstable

Most common resolutions

C#C# MajorEE Major

Unstable degrees

2D

b3D#

resolves down to the 2nd

4F

b5F#

resolves inward to the 4th

Main resolution

Cdimsource

C#C# Major

Diminished Cdim acts as a leading-tone chord — resolves up a half step to C#. All tones are unstable, moving by semitones inward and outward to stable degrees.

Other resolutions

Cdimsource

Deceptive resolution

EE Major

Due to its symmetry, a diminished 7th chord can resolve to any major or minor chord a minor 3rd apart.

Cdimsource

Modal resolution

DmD Minor

In modal context, a diminished chord can be used as a passing chord, connecting two diatonic chords through chromatic bass motion.

Cdimsource

Jazz reharmonization

B7B Dominant 7

In jazz, dim7 is often reinterpreted as a rootless dominant 7b9. For example, Cdim7 ≈ B7b9, opening additional resolution paths.

Cdimsource

Functional resolution

GmG Minor

A diminished chord can function as a leading-tone chord to any degree — not just the tonic. Often used before the ii, iii, or vi degrees.

Features

Character

Diminished, unstable

Characteristic interval

Diminished 5th (b5)

Description

Two stacked minor 3rds form a diminished 5th. The tritone makes the triad dissonant and directs voices toward neighbouring stable tones.

Application

• vii° — vii degree of major
• Passing chords
• Horror, suspense

Voicing & structure

Harmony

Harmonic context

ii°Bb minorPredominantvi°Eb DorianToniciii°Ab MixolydianTonic

Typical progressions

I-V-vi-IV

C—G—Am—F

Pop

Compatible scales

All chord tones are contained in these scales — use them for improvisation.