Package leaflet · Information for the musician · Chord
D Diminished Chord (Ddim)
Tense, unstable and dark. Two stacked minor thirds create a diminished fifth that wants to resolve inward.
- Ddim
- 3 notes
- xx0131
1Composition: what it contains
D – F – A♭
- Symbol
- Ddim
- Also written
- Ddim, D°, Dm♭5, Dmi(♭5)
- Formula
- 1 ♭3 ♭5
| Degree | Note | Interval | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | D | unison | 0 |
| ♭3 | F | minor third | 3 |
| ♭5 | A♭ | diminished fifth | 6 |
2Appearance: diagrams and sound
On the guitar
xx0131open position
x5676xfret 5
x-x-12-10-9-10fret 9
x-x-12-13-15-13fret 12On the ukulele
7545fret 4
7-8-10-8fret 7
13-14-13-11fret 11On the piano
On the staff
On bass and as an arpeggio
3Indications: what it is used for
The vii° chord of a major key and the ii° chord of a minor key are diminished triads. It works as a leading-tone chord resolving to the tonic (vii°–I), as a passing chord between two diatonic chords (for example between I and ii, or IV and V), and as an incomplete dominant seventh: the vii° triad contains the 3, 5 and 7 of V7. Classical, jazz, gospel and film music use it for tension and chromatic movement in the bass.
4Dosage: how to practise it
On piano, play the triad in all inversions at 60 BPM, then practise vii°6–I resolutions with smooth voice leading (the diminished fifth contracting to a third). On guitar, learn the compact three-string shapes on the top strings and the shape rooted on the fifth string. Practise the passing progression I–♯I°–ii–V slowly, then at 80–100 BPM. Arpeggiate 1-♭3-♭5 on bass. Five minutes a day is enough once the shapes are known.
5Warnings and common mistakes
Do not confuse the triad (dim) with the diminished seventh chord (dim7 or °7) or the half-diminished seventh (m7♭5 or ø7): many charts write 'dim' when they mean the four-note dim7, so check the style. The diminished fifth is not a perfect fifth; on guitar, power-chord habits make players play the wrong fifth. In root position the triad can sound harsh; first inversion is the most common classical voicing.
6Interactions with chords, scales and keys
Inversions
- Inversion 1 · Ddim/F · F – A♭ – D
- Inversion 2 · Ddim/A♭ · A♭ – D – F
Scales to play over Ddim
- D Locrian Mode
- D Blues Scale
- D Half-Whole Diminished Scale
- D Whole-Half Diminished Scale
- D Hungarian Minor Scale
- D Altered Scale
Where it appears (keys and Roman numerals)
7Other presentations available
The same chord from every note
Cdim C♯dim E♭dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim A♭dim Adim B♭dim Bdim
Other chords on D
D Dm Daug Dsus2 Dsus4 D5 D6 Dm6 D7 Dmaj7 Dm7 Dm7♭5 Ddim7 Dm(maj7) D7sus4 Dadd9 Dm(add9) D6/9 D9 Dmaj9 Dm9 D11 Dm11 D13 D7♭9 D7♯9 D7♯5 D7♭5
Read this leaflet carefully before playing. Keep it near your instrument. Free to use, print and share for personal and educational use.