Ddim7 Chord on Guitar

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Ddim7 is a diminished seventh chord made of 4 notes: D, F, A♭, C♭. It sounds spooky and suspenseful, and you hear it in passing chords, old film scores and dramatic moments; any note of it can be the root.

The library above opens on Ddim7 with 14 shapes up and down the neck. Tap a shape to hear it, or play it one string at a time.

Notes in Ddim7

NoteDegreeInterval from DSemitones
D1root0
F♭3minor third3
A♭♭5diminished fifth6
C♭𝄫7diminished seventh9

Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – 𝄫7.

How to play Ddim7

12
Open positionBeginnerxx0101
4fr132
Fret 4Beginnerxx0464
4fr2314
Fret 4Easyx5646x
9fr2413
Fret 9Easy(10)(11)9(10)xx
12fr1324
Fret 12Easyxx(12)(13)(12)(13)
3fr4123
Fret 3Easyx53404

Open position (root on the 4th string), step by step

  1. 1st finger (index): 3rd string, 1st fret (A♭, the flat fifth).
  2. 2nd finger (middle): 1st string, 1st fret (F, the minor third).
  3. Let the 4th string, 2nd string ring open (D, C♭).
  4. Strum from the 4th string, and keep the 6th string and 5th string quiet.

Tips

The open position shape is the one to learn first. Once it is easy, try the shape at the 9th fret ((10)(11)9(10)xx): the same chord, higher and brighter, handy when the chords before and after it sit up the neck.

Where Ddim7 fits

Ddim7 is not built from one major or minor scale, so it works as a colour or passing chord. Passing chords, old film scores and dramatic moments; any note of it can be the root.

Common questions

What notes are in Ddim7?

D, F, A♭, C♭: the root, minor third, flat fifth, diminished seventh.

What is the easiest way to play Ddim7?

Open position: xx0101 (low string first), rated Beginner.

What is the difference between Ddim7 and Ddim?

Ddim7 has C♭. Ddim7 sounds spooky and suspenseful; Ddim sounds tense and unstable.

Is Ddim7 a hard chord?

No. The easiest shape is rated Beginner and needs 2 fingers.

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