Dm7♭5 chord on guitar

Dm7♭5 is D, F, A♭ and C. The easiest shape is x-x-0-1-1-1. Tap Play, then slow it down.

x-x-0-1-1-1 · open · easy

Notes: D · F · A♭ · C
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
First shape: x-x-0-1-1-1

How to play Dm7♭5 on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-0-1-1-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

Put your index finger on the G string at the 1st fret, which is A♭.
Put your middle finger on the B string at the 1st fret, which is C.
Put your ring finger on the high E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
The open D string adds D; don't touch it.
Skip the low E and A strings and begin the strum from the D string.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play Dm7♭5

10-x-10-10-9-x: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. The root is on the low E string, so you can slide this shape to play any half-diminished chord.
x-5-6-5-6-x: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-12-13-13-13: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.

Dm7♭5 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Dm7♭5, using the first shape of each chord.

G7 (the iiø7 of a minor key heads to V7): Dm7♭5 (x-x-0-1-1-1) to G7 (3-2-0-0-0-1): the index finger goes to the high E string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the low E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for D and F, which stay put while the rest moves. G7 on guitar
E♭maj7 (I in E♭ major): Dm7♭5 (x-x-0-1-1-1) to E♭maj7 (x-x-1-3-3-3): the index finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the B string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the high E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for D, which stays put while the rest moves. E♭maj7 on guitar
Gm7 (iii in E♭ major): Dm7♭5 (x-x-0-1-1-1) to Gm7 (3-5-3-3-3-3): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 3rd fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 5th fret. Shared notes: D and F. Gm7 on guitar

Dm7♭5 is a half-diminished chord (minor seventh flat five). Dm7♭5 is the ii chord of a minor key, the first step of a minor ii–V–i. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Getting Dm7♭5 under your fingers

Arpeggiate x-x-0-1-1-1 from the lowest string: D, A♭, C, F. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Then switch to 10-x-10-10-9-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

Where Dm7♭5 shows up

Dm7♭5 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Dm7♭5 on ukulele or Dm7♭5 on piano, or compare them on the Dm7♭5 chord page.

Related D chords on guitar

Other half-diminished chords

Dm7♭5 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Dm7♭5 on guitar?

D, F, A♭ and C. In the x-x-0-1-1-1 shape the strings play D (D string, open), A♭ (G string), C (B string) and F (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play Dm7♭5 on guitar?

x-x-0-1-1-1, the shape at the top of this page. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is Dm7♭5 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-x-0-1-1-1 needs no barre.

Which string does Dm7♭5 start on?

In the x-x-0-1-1-1 shape the lowest string you play is the D string, open, which is D, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes D, F, A♭ and C and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.