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D♯dim7 chord on guitar

D♯dim7 (D♯ diminished seventh) is D♯, F♯, A and C. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x6757x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 7th 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.

D♯dim7

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

  • 5th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    5fr2314D♯ACF♯

    x6757x

  • 10th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    10fr2131D♯CF♯A

    11-x-10-11-10-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 D♯dim7

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 · 5th fret

    x6757x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 5th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 7th 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 · 10th fret

    11-x-10-11-10-x
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 10th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 11th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the D♯dim7 chord

D♯dim7 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 D♯dim7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after D♯dim7

Em022000D♯dim7 is the vii°7 of Em: every note leans into it.E022100The same half step up into E, home in the major key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on D♯

E♭E♭mE♭7E♭maj7E♭m7E♭sus2E♭sus4E♭add9E♭9E♭6D♯dimD♯m7♭5E♭aug

Diminished seventh chords on other notes

Cdim7C♯dim7Ddim7Edim7Fdim7F♯dim7Gdim7G♯dim7Adim7A♯dim7Bdim7

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

Frequently asked questions

How do you play D♯dim7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x6757x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 5th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 6th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 7th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 7th 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 D♯dim7 chord?

D♯dim7 is D♯, F♯, A and C. In the shape written x6757x, the 5th to 2nd strings play D♯, A, C and F♯.

Is D♯dim7 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play D♯dim7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x6757x (5th fret) and 11-x-10-11-10-x (10th 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 D♯dim7?

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

Make a beat in E minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in E minor on Em C G D, the key where D♯dim7 is the vii°7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in E minorAll guitar chords

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