Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge: C# and E#dim

The Chord "Deux" Jour Challenge means learning or expanding upon two chords per day for 49 days (USA Thanksgiving off). Check out the full list here.

Each chord map attempts to appeal to both beginners and intermediate/advanced guitarists and keyboardists. Simple chord shapes for beginners are provided with the following finger system:

1 index finger
2 middle finger
3 ring finger
4 little finger
o play open string
x do not play open string
( bar one finger over more than one string
T that rare occasion that I recommend you use your thumb to fret a note (which probably won't show up during the Challenge)


Today's chords are C-sharp major (C#) and E-sharp diminished (E#dim), both of which contain the E-sharp (E#) note. Here's a quick note about the E# note (pun intended): E# is remarkably identical to F, but we'll get into enharmonics in a few days. If you're using E#, then you're probably in the vicinity of the key of F# major, which has the following notes: F# G# A# B C# D# E# F#. If you don't use E# for this key, then it would go F# G# A# B C# D# F F#, which could get a bit confusing. So that's why we use E# -- to avoid confusion. OK, here are the chords:

Here's a quick note for guitarists: You can play E#dim at the 1st fret, low E string as well -- just use the same moveable chord shape as F#dim and G#dim. In fact, you can play E#dim elsewhere on the fretboard, as long as you play the E#, G#, and B notes. Keyboardists play this way all the time, or so I've heard (pun also intended).


Two more, two days from now, on Friday. Cheers!