Piano chord
Dm7♭5D half-diminished
- D1
- F♭3
- A♭♭5
- C♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Dm7♭5 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, 4 on F, 3 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.
Dm7♭5 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 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: CRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with Dm7♭5
The other chords of E flat major, the key where Dm7♭5 is home (viiø7). Songs in this key move between them.
Dm7♭5 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays D an octave lower, the right hand plays D–F–A♭–C.
Dm7♭5 on other instruments
About the Dm7♭5 chord
To build D half-diminished, take these 4 notes from the root up: D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5), C (♭7). A half-diminished chord: a diminished triad with the flat seventh. It is the ii chord in minor keys and leads to the dominant.
The keys are D – F – A♭ – C, counted up from D; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Dm7♭5, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Dm7♭5 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, Dm7♭5 has one more note, C.
You meet Dm7♭5 in these keys: E flat major (viiø7), C minor (iiø7).
Questions
What notes are in the Dm7♭5 chord?
Dm7♭5 (D half-diminished) has 4 notes: D (1), F (♭3), A♭ (♭5), C (♭7).
How many inversions does Dm7♭5 have?
Dm7♭5 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 Dm7♭5 and Ddim?
Compared with Ddim, Dm7♭5 has one more note, C.
Can I play Dm7♭5 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Dm7♭5 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.