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Ddim7 chord

Ddim7 (D diminished seventh) is D, F, A♭ and C♭. It sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic film-villain chord.

Ddim7

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

DFC♭A♭

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Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the Ddim7 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: each number is the note’s place in the D major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is three white keys and one black key (A♭). C♭ is the white key B.

The notes of Ddim7 and their intervals from D
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
D1Root0
F♭3Minor third3
A♭♭5Diminished fifth6
C♭♭♭7Diminished seventh9

Ddim7 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

D F A♭ C♭

Written Ddim7, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

F A♭ C♭ D

Written Ddim7/F: F at the bottom.

2nd inversion

A♭ C♭ D F

Written Ddim7/A♭: A♭ at the bottom.

3rd inversion

C♭ D F A♭

Written Ddim7/C♭: C♭ at the bottom.

Keys with the Ddim7 chord

Ddim7 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Minor keys

Raised 7th: the minor key with its seventh note a half step higher (harmonic minor), as most minor songs play their V and vii chords.

Chords that often come after Ddim7

E♭mE♭ G♭ B♭Ddim7 is the vii°7 of E♭m: every note leans into it.E♭E♭ G B♭The same half step up into E♭, home in the major key.

More piano 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 piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Ddim7 chord?

Ddim7 is D, F, A♭ and C♭. On the piano that is three white keys and one black key (A♭). C♭ is the white key B.

How do you play Ddim7 on the piano?

With your right hand, play D, F, A♭ and C♭ with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb to little finger). With your left hand it is 5, 3, 2 and 1. From D, count 3 half steps up to F, 3 more to A♭ and 3 more to C♭.

What are the inversions of Ddim7?

Root position: D F A♭ C♭. 1st inversion: F A♭ C♭ D (Ddim7/F). 2nd inversion: A♭ C♭ D F (Ddim7/A♭). 3rd inversion: C♭ D F A♭ (Ddim7/C♭). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Ddim7 in?

In minor keys, it is the vii°7 chord in D♯ minor (written C𝄪dim7, with its raised seventh).

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 piano chords

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