D♯dim, diminished chord
D♯, F♯ and A
- Root
- D♯
- Minor third
- F♯
- Diminished fifth
- A
Formula
1 ♭3 ♭5 (3, 6 half steps above D♯)
Fingering in root position
| Notes | D♯ | F♯ | A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D♯ diminished inversions
D♯ diminished has 2 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.
D♯dim
Root position
| Notes | D♯ | F♯ | A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D♯dim/F♯
First inversion
| Notes | F♯ | A | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 1 |
D♯dim/A
Second inversion
| Notes | A | D♯ | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 2 | 1 |
Keys with D♯ diminished
Roman numerals give a chord's place in a key: capitals for major chords, small letters for minor, ° for diminished. D♯ diminished appears as:
- vii° in E major
- ii° in C♯ minor
- vii° in E minor
How D♯ diminished is built
D♯ is the root, F♯ the minor third and A the diminished fifth.
A diminished chord stacks two minor thirds: the root, a minor third (3 half steps up) and a diminished fifth (6 half steps up). It sounds tense and usually moves on to another chord.
Every chord takes every other letter of the alphabet, so the letters of D♯ diminished are D, F, A. That is why it is spelled D♯, F♯ and A.
Find D♯ diminished 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 3
Tap the notes of D♯ diminished, in any octave and any order.
Practice D♯ diminished 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 chord?
D♯ diminished (D♯dim) has three notes: D♯, F♯ and A. D♯ is the root, F♯ the minor third and A the diminished fifth.
What fingers do you use for D♯ diminished on piano?
In root position, play D♯, F♯ and A with right hand fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger and little finger) and left hand fingers 5, 3 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?
D♯ diminished has 2 inversions, one for each note other than the root at the bottom. First inversion (D♯dim/F♯): F♯, A and D♯. Second inversion (D♯dim/A): A, D♯ and F♯.
What key is D♯ diminished in?
D♯ diminished appears as vii° in E major, ii° in C♯ minor and vii° in E minor.