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D Diminished Chord

Ddim stacks two minor thirds: D to F, then F to A flat. Its lowered fifth creates a tritone above the root and gives the triad a strong need to move.

  • Notes: D-F-A flat
  • Symbol: Ddim
  • viidim in Eb major
  • Lowered fifth
Switch chordDdim

How to play a D diminished chord

Notes: D - F - Ab · symbol Ddim

  • Root position

    D - F - Ab
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    F - Ab - D
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Ab - D - F
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does D diminished belong?

In Eb major, this diminished triad can act as a leading-tone chord that approaches the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In Eb majorLeading-tone chord
    vii°

    D is the leading tone of Eb, so the chord leans hard toward it.

    EbIAbIVDdimvii°EbI
  • In C minorThe ii° in minor
    ii°

    The minor-key version of ii-V-i, heading to Cm.

    Ddimii°GVCmi
  • In Eb minorMinor-key pull
    vii°

    From harmonic minor: the same chord pulls just as hard toward Ebm.

    EbmiAbmivDdimvii°Ebmi

Progressions to try

  • EbAbDdimEb

    Ddim is a leading-tone triad that resolves by step into the final major tonic.

  • DdimGCm

    In C minor, Ddim serves as ii diminished before the dominant and minor tonic.

  • EbmAbmDdimEbm

    The leading-tone sound also works before a minor tonic; check the chord's spelling in this key.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with the open xx0131 grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent.

On ukulele, start with 7545, played at the 4th fret. The 10-8-10-8 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play D-F-A flat. Move D up an octave to reach the first inversion, F-A flat-D; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

D is the root, F the minor third and A flat the diminished fifth, six semitones above the root.

  • Root position: D-F-A flat, with D lowest.
  • First inversion: F-A flat-D, written Ddim/F if F is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: A flat-D-F, written Ddim/Ab if A flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Ddim differ from Dm?

Keep D and F, then raise the diminished fifth A flat to A. That makes Dm. This page is about the three-note diminished triad, not a diminished seventh chord. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Dm for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Ddim

    D - F - Ab
    C4

    D diminished

  • Dm

    D - F - A
    C4

    D minor

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