D♯ diminished chord (D♯dim)
D♯dim is D♯, F♯ and A: 1–♭3–♭5 built on D♯. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-x-1-2-4-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- x-x-1-2-4-2
D♯dim on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · D♯–F♯–A · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
D♯dim on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-3-2-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 2-3-2-0
Where D♯dim usually goes next
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- D♯dim → E (leads up a half step)
Guitar: D♯dim (x-x-1-2-4-2) to E (0-2-2-1-0-0): the index finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: D♯dim to E: play E in root position (E–G♯–B), while D♯ moves up to E, F♯ up to G♯ and A up to B. E - D♯dim → Em (leads up a half step)
Guitar: D♯dim (x-x-1-2-4-2) to Em (0-2-2-0-0-0): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret.
Piano: D♯dim to Em: play Em in root position (E–G–B), while D♯ moves up to E, F♯ up to G and A up to B. Em - D♯dim → G♯m (iii in E major)
Guitar: D♯dim (x-x-1-2-4-2) to G♯m (4-6-6-4-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 6th fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 6th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared note: D♯.
Piano: D♯dim to G♯m: play G♯m in 2nd inversion (D♯–G♯–B) and D♯ stays under the same finger, while F♯ moves up to G♯ and A up to B. G♯m
How D♯dim is built
D♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. It sounds tense and unstable and rarely stays long. Its most common job is to lead up a half step, so D♯dim usually moves to E or Em.
From D♯, go 3 half steps up to F♯ then 3 half steps up to A. Written with flats or sharps the other way round it's E♭dim; the sound is identical.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| D♯ | root | 0 | |
| F♯ | minor third | 3 | |
| A | diminished fifth | 6 |
Keys and progressions with D♯dim
You'll find D♯dim as vii° in E major. On the minor side it's ii° in C♯ minor.
Chords close to D♯dim
- D♯dim and E♭m differ by one note: A in D♯dim, B♭ in E♭m. They share D♯ and F♯. E♭m
Chords that share most of their notes with D♯dim: Cdim7, D♯dim7, D♯m7♭5, F♯m6, F♯dim7, Adim7.
Every D♯ chord
D♯ diminished chord: questions
What notes are in the D♯ diminished chord?
D♯, F♯ and A. D♯dim is built 1–♭3–♭5 from D♯: F♯ is the minor third and A is the diminished fifth.
How do you play D♯dim on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-1-2-4-2 (movable). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play D♯dim on piano?
Play D♯, F♯ and A with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. D♯ sits on the black key between D and E. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play D♯dim on ukulele?
2-3-2-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is D♯dim in?
You'll find D♯dim as vii° in E major. On the minor side it's ii° in C♯ minor.
What's the difference between D♯dim and E♭m?
D♯dim and E♭m differ by one note: A in D♯dim, B♭ in E♭m. They share D♯ and F♯.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes D♯, F♯ and A and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.