Piano chord
Ddim7D diminished seventh
- D1
- F♭3
- A♭♭5
- C♭𝄫7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 9semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Ddim7 on piano
- Find D: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on D, 2 on F, 3 on A♭, 5 on C♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on D, 3 on F, 2 on A♭, 1 on C♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · D – F – A♭ – C♭
1st inversion · F – A♭ – C♭ – D
2nd inversion · A♭ – C♭ – D – F
3rd inversion · C♭ – D – F – A♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Ddim7 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on D; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: DRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: C♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
Chords that go with Ddim7
The other chords of E flat minor, the key where Ddim7 is home (vii°7). Songs in this key move between them.
Ddim7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays D an octave lower, the right hand plays D–F–A♭–C♭.
Ddim7 on other instruments
About the Ddim7 chord
To build D diminished seventh, take these 4 notes from the root up: D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5), C♭ (𝄫7). A diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked. Every note is three semitones from the next, so the same keys name four different chords.
The keys are D – F – A♭ – C♭, counted up from D; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 9 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Ddim7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Ddim7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is F (F–A♭–C♭–D). In the 2nd inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C♭–D–F). In the 3rd inversion the bass is C♭ (C♭–D–F–A♭).
Compared with Ddim, Ddim7 has one more note, C♭.
You meet Ddim7 in these keys: E flat minor (vii°7).
Questions
What notes are in the Ddim7 chord?
Ddim7 (D diminished seventh) has 4 notes: D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5), C♭ (𝄫7).
How many inversions does Ddim7 have?
Ddim7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (D–F–A♭–C♭); 1st inversion (F–A♭–C♭–D); 2nd inversion (A♭–C♭–D–F); 3rd inversion (C♭–D–F–A♭).
What is the difference between Ddim7 and Ddim?
Compared with Ddim, Ddim7 has one more note, C♭.
Can I play Ddim7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Ddim7 spans 9 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.