Root position Ddim
D – F – A♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
D Diminished Chord on Piano
Ddim D F A♭ Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the D Diminished chord?
The D Diminished chord has 3 notes: D, F, A♭. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from D) gives it its tension.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| D | Root | 0 |
| F | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| A♭ | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play D Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Ddim/F
F – A♭ – D
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion Ddim/A♭
A♭ – D – F
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with D Diminished
Every key where Ddim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the D Diminished chord?
The D Diminished chord (Ddim) is made of D, F, A♭. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play Ddim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on D and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Ddim?
root position Ddim (D F A♭); 1st inversion Ddim/F (F A♭ D); 2nd inversion Ddim/A♭ (A♭ D F).
Play it for real
Hold Ddim and build a progression on it
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