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Ddim7 chord on guitar

Ddim7 (D diminished seventh) is D, F, A♭ and C♭. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x5646x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Ddim7

D diminished seventh · D F A♭ C♭ · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7

  • 4th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    4fr2314DA♭C♭F

    x5646x

  • 9th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    9fr2131DC♭FA♭

    10-x-9-10-9-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are D, the root.

How to play Ddim7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 4th fret

    x5646x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 4th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 6th string · 9th fret

    10-x-9-10-9-x
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 9th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 10th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 10th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the Ddim7 chord

Ddim7 is D, F, A♭ and C♭, and it sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic film-villain chord. From D, count 3 half steps up to F, 3 more to A♭ and 3 more to C♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with D lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Ddim7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Ddim7

E♭mx68876Ddim7 is the vii°7 of E♭m: every note leans into it.E♭x68886The same half step up into E♭, home in the major key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on D

DDmD7Dmaj7Dm7Dsus2Dsus4Dadd9D9D6DdimDm7♭5Daug

Diminished seventh chords on other notes

Cdim7C♯dim7D♯dim7Edim7Fdim7F♯dim7Gdim7G♯dim7Adim7A♯dim7Bdim7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Ddim7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x5646x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 4th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 5th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 6th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 6th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the Ddim7 chord?

Ddim7 is D, F, A♭ and C♭. In the shape written x5646x, the 5th to 2nd strings play D, A♭, C♭ and F.

Is Ddim7 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play Ddim7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x5646x (4th fret) and 10-x-9-10-9-x (9th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Ddim7?

Yes. “Make a beat in D♯ minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D♯ minor on D♯m B F♯ C♯, the key where Ddim7 is the vii°7 chord (written C𝄪dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in D♯ minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in D♯ minor on D♯m B F♯ C♯, the key where Ddim7 is the vii°7 chord (written C𝄪dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in D♯ minorAll guitar chords

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