Ddim7, diminished seventh chord
D, F, A♭ and C♭
- Root
- D
- Minor third
- F
- Diminished fifth
- A♭
- Diminished seventh
- C♭
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 𝄫7 (3, 6, 9 half steps above D)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | D | F | A♭ | C♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
C♭ is played on the white key B.
D diminished 7 inversions
D diminished 7 has 3 inversions. Each one keeps the same notes and puts a different one at the bottom, so your hand can stay close to the chord before or after it.
Ddim7
Root position
| Notes | D | F | A♭ | C♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Ddim7/F
First inversion
| Notes | F | A♭ | C♭ | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Ddim7/A♭
Second inversion
| Notes | A♭ | C♭ | D | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Ddim7/C♭
Third inversion
| Notes | C♭ | D | F | A♭ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with D diminished 7
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. D diminished 7 appears as:
- vii°7 in E♭ minor
How D diminished 7 is built
D is the root, F the minor third, A♭ the diminished fifth and C♭ the diminished seventh.
A diminished seventh chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is 3 half steps from the next. That symmetry means D diminished 7 uses the same four keys as F diminished 7, G♯ diminished 7 and B diminished 7.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of D diminished 7 are D, F, A, C. That is why it is spelled D, F, A♭ and C♭.
Find D diminished 7 yourself
Without looking at the diagrams, find the chord on the keyboard, then each inversion. Saying the notes out loud as you tap them helps them stick.
Step 1 of 4
Tap the notes of D diminished 7, in any octave and any order.
Practice D diminished 7 in real music
MasterPiano gives you new music to read at your level and listens as you play, through a MIDI keyboard or your device's microphone, marking each note right or wrong.
Start freeQuestions
What notes are in the D diminished 7 chord?
D diminished 7 (Ddim7) has four notes: D, F, A♭ and C♭. D is the root, F the minor third, A♭ the diminished fifth and C♭ the diminished seventh. C♭ is played on the white key B.
What fingers do you use for D diminished 7 on piano?
In root position, play D, F, A♭ and C♭ with right hand fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb, index finger, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3, 2 and 1. The fingers change a little in each inversion; every inversion on this page shows its own.
What are the inversions of D diminished 7?
D diminished 7 has 3 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (Ddim7/F): F, A♭, C♭ and D. Second inversion (Ddim7/A♭): A♭, C♭, D and F. Third inversion (Ddim7/C♭): C♭, D, F and A♭.
What key is D diminished 7 in?
D diminished 7 appears as vii°7 in E♭ minor.