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Piano chord

DdimD diminished

  • D1
  • F♭3
  • A♭♭5
Notes
3
Positions
3
Span
6semitones
Fingers
1-3-5

How to play Ddim on piano

  1. Find D: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on D, 3 on F, 5 on A♭.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F, 1 on A♭.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. Ddim on piano, Root position: D F A♭D, F, A♭DFA♭135
    Ddim on piano, Root position: D F A♭D, F, A♭DFA♭531

    Root position · D – F – A♭

  2. Ddim on piano, 1st inversion: F A♭ DF, A♭, DFDA♭152
    Ddim on piano, 1st inversion: F A♭ DF, A♭, DFDA♭513

    1st inversion · F – A♭ – D

  3. Ddim on piano, 2nd inversion: A♭ D FA♭, D, FDFA♭351
    Ddim on piano, 2nd inversion: A♭ D FA♭, D, FDFA♭215

    2nd inversion · A♭ – D – F

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

Ddim inversions

Here are all 3 positions of Ddim. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has D at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.

Chords that go with Ddim

The other chords of E flat major, the key where Ddim is home (vii°). Songs in this key move between them.

Ddim with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays D an octave lower, the right hand plays D–F–A♭.

Ddim with two handsD, D, F, A♭DDFA♭5135

Ddim on other instruments

About the Ddim chord

The 3 notes of D diminished are D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5). A diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked, with a flat fifth. Tense and unstable, it leads strongly to the next chord.

Put your thumb on D and count up: D – F – A♭. The whole chord spans 6 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers Ddim without stretching.

The inversions of Ddim keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–D). In the 2nd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–D–F).

Take C♭ out of Ddim7 and you get Ddim.

Ddim belongs to E flat major (vii°), C minor (ii°).

Questions

What notes are in the Ddim chord?

Ddim (D diminished) has 3 notes: D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5).

How many inversions does Ddim have?

Ddim can be played in 3 positions: Root position (D–F–A♭); 1st inversion (F–A♭–D); 2nd inversion (A♭–D–F).

What is the difference between Ddim and Ddim7?

Take C♭ out of Ddim7 and you get Ddim.

Can I play Ddim with one hand?

Yes. In root position Ddim spans 6 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More D chords