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D diminished chord on bass (Ddim)
Also called or written Ddim or D°
D diminished contains D, F, and A♭. The 10th-fret shape is a one-finger-per-string stretch that sits high on the neck.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionD–F–A♭Ddim10-11-12-10
- First inversionF–A♭–DDdim/F13-11-12-13
- Second inversionA♭–D–FDdim/A♭4-5-3-×
How do you play a D diminished chord on bass?
D diminished is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 12 10: index finger on the E string at fret 10, ring finger on the A string at fret 11, pinky finger on the D string at fret 12 and middle finger on the G string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 3 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 4 | D (1) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 2 | F (♭3) |
IntermediateThe pinky must reach the 12th fret on the 2nd string while the middle finger holds the 10th fret on the 1st string.
Ddim/F inversion
D diminished is played at the 11th fret as 13 11 12 13: ring finger on the E string at fret 13, index finger on the A string at fret 11, middle finger on the D string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 3 | F (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 1 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 2 | D (1) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 4 | A♭ (♭5) |
Ddim/A♭ inversion · fret 3
D diminished is played at the 3rd fret as 4 5 3 ×: middle finger on the E string at fret 4, ring finger on the A string at fret 5 and index finger on the D string at fret 3. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Ddim/A♭ inversion · fret 10
D diminished is played at the 10th fret as × 11 12 10: middle finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 12 and index finger on the G string at fret 10. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 2 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
D diminished is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5. The ♭5 interval gives the chord its tense, unstable quality. Compare D minor, which raises the fifth to A.
What goes wrong with D diminished?
- Letting the pinky collapse onto the 1st string mutes the G.
- Pressing the index finger too flat on the 4th string buzzes against the fret.
- Arching the ring finger too high pulls the 3rd string sharp.
When to use it
D diminished works as a passing chord between D minor and F major, or over a C natural minor line. The ♭5 interval creates a tritone that pulls toward the next chord, suiting jazz walk-ups and metal riffs.
Changing to and from D diminished
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 8th fret gives C diminished.
- Move to D minor by raising the 2nd string one fret to the 13th fret.
Which voicing to use
The 10th-fret shape puts D in the bass for a root-position sound. The Ddim/F inversion at the 13th fret places F in the bass, which softens the chord's bite.
Other D chords
Common questions
How do I write D diminished?
Write D° or Ddim. The root is D, and the chord is spelled D–F–A♭.
Why does D diminished sound unstable?
The ♭5 interval creates a tritone with the root, which wants to resolve. This tension is what gives diminished chords their forward drive.
Can I use D diminished in place of D minor?
Only when you want that darker, more dissonant color. D diminished lowers the fifth, so it clashes with melodies that expect the perfect fifth A.