D♯dim7 chord on guitar

D♯dim7 is D♯, F♯, A and C. The usual shape is x-x-1-2-1-2. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

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

How to play D♯dim7 on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-1-2-1-2, reading from the low E string on the left:

Index finger: D string, 1st fret (D♯).
Middle finger: B string, 1st fret (C).
Ring finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Pinky: high E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Don't play the low E and A strings: start your strum on the D string.

The pinky takes a note here. Keep it curved and close to the fretboard between chords so it has less distance to travel.
Aim the strum at the thinner strings only; the lower ones are marked × for a reason.

Other ways to play D♯dim7

11-x-10-11-10-x: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. Built on the Edim7 open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-6-7-5-7-x: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. The root is on the A string; it's the Adim7 shape moved up the neck.
x-x-13-14-13-14: movable shape at the 13th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Moving between D♯dim7 and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with D♯dim7, using the first shape of each chord.

E (leads up a half step): 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. E on guitar
Em (leads up a half step): 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. Em on guitar
A♭ (a fifth down): 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. A♭ on guitar

D♯dim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. D♯dim7 can stand in for a dominant seventh a half step below, which is why it links chords so smoothly. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Getting D♯dim7 under your fingers

Arpeggiate x-x-1-2-1-2 from the lowest string: D♯, A, C, F♯. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Next, alternate x-x-1-2-1-2 and 11-x-10-11-10-x, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

E♭dim7 is another spelling of D♯dim7. Same shape, same sound.

Where D♯dim7 shows up

D♯dim7 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try D♯dim7 on ukulele or D♯dim7 on piano, or compare them on the D♯dim7 chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other diminished seventh chords

D♯dim7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in D♯dim7 on guitar?

D♯, F♯, A and C. In the x-x-1-2-1-2 shape the strings play D♯ (D string), A (G string), C (B string) and F♯ (high E string).

What's the easiest way to play D♯dim7 on guitar?

D♯dim7 has no open-string shape in standard tuning, so every version needs a barre or a stretch. Start with x-x-1-2-1-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is D♯dim7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: x-x-1-2-1-2 needs no barre.

Which string does D♯dim7 start on?

In the x-x-1-2-1-2 shape the lowest string you play is the D string at the 1st fret, which is D♯, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside D♯dim7. Updated September 2026.