D♯dim7, 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 |
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.
D♯dim7
Root position
| Notes | D♯ | F♯ | A | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
D♯dim7/F♯
First inversion
| Notes | F♯ | A | C | D♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
D♯dim7/A
Second inversion
| Notes | A | C | D♯ | F♯ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Left hand | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
D♯dim7/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, A diminished 7 and C 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 (D♯dim7) 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.
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 (D♯dim7/F♯): F♯, A, C and D♯. Second inversion (D♯dim7/A): A, C, D♯ and F♯. Third inversion (D♯dim7/C): C, D♯, F♯ and A.
What key is D♯ diminished 7 in?
D♯ diminished 7 appears as vii°7 in E minor.