D♯dim7 chord
D♯dim7 is D♯, F♯, A and C: 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 built on D♯. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-x-1-2-1-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- x-x-1-2-1-2
D♯dim7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · D♯–F♯–A–C · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
D♯dim7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-3-2-3 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D♯ · F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- 2-3-2-3
Where D♯dim7 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what D♯dim7 does in songs.
- D♯dim7 → E (leads up a half step)
Guitar: D♯dim7 (x-x-1-2-1-2) 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, the ring finger slides across to the D string at the same fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: D♯dim7 to E: play E in root position (E–G♯–B), while D♯ moves up to E, A down to G♯ and C down to B. E - D♯dim7 → Em (leads up a half step)
Guitar: D♯dim7 (x-x-1-2-1-2) to Em (0-2-2-0-0-0): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret.
Piano: D♯dim7 to Em: play Em in root position (E–G–B), while D♯ moves up to E, F♯ up to G and C down to B. Em - D♯dim7 → A♭ (a fifth down)
Guitar: D♯dim7 (x-x-1-2-1-2) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 5th fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared notes: D♯ and C.
Piano: D♯dim7 to A♭: play A♭ in 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–C) and E♭ and C stay under the same fingers, while A moves down to A♭. A♭
How D♯dim7 is built
D♯dim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. That symmetry means D♯dim7 contains exactly the same four notes as F♯dim7, Adim7 and Cdim7; which name you use depends on the bass note and the key.
From D♯, go 3 half steps up to F♯, 3 half steps up to A then 3 half steps up to C. You may also see it as E♭dim7: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| D♯ | root | 0 | |
| F♯ | minor third | 3 | |
| A | diminished fifth | 6 | |
| C | diminished seventh | 9 |
Keys and progressions with D♯dim7
No major or natural minor key contains D♯dim7 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
Chords close to D♯dim7
- D♯dim7 is D♯dim plus C. D♯dim
Chords that share most of their notes with D♯dim7: Cdim7, F♯dim7, Adim7, Cdim, D♯dim, F♯dim.
Every D♯ chord
D♯dim7 chord: questions
What notes are in the D♯dim7 chord?
D♯, F♯, A and C. D♯dim7 is built 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 from D♯: F♯ is the minor third, A is the diminished fifth and C is the diminished seventh.
How do you play D♯dim7 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-1-2-1-2 (movable). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play D♯dim7 on piano?
Play D♯, F♯, A and C with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. D♯ sits on the black key between D and E. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play D♯dim7 on ukulele?
2-3-2-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is D♯dim7 in?
No major or natural minor key contains D♯dim7 as one of its own chords; it turns up as a passing chord on the way somewhere else.
What's the difference between D♯dim7 and D♯dim?
D♯dim7 is D♯dim plus C.
All three instruments are drawn and played from D♯, F♯, A and C by the same engine. Updated September 2026.