Also written Ddim7 or D°7
D diminished 7th is built from D, F, A♭, and C♭. The open voicing uses two open strings and two fretted notes.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
D diminished 7th stacks three minor 3rds on D: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. The diminished 5th between D and A♭ gives the chord its tense quality. Compare it with D minor 7th flat 5th, which raises the ♭♭7 to a ♭7.
D diminished 7th often functions as a leading-tone chord in E♭ major or E♭ minor, resolving to E♭ major or E♭ minor. Its tense sound suits classical cadences and jazz turnarounds. Try it before E♭ major or E♭ minor.
The open voicing keeps D in the bass and is the easiest to play. The 9th fret barre version offers a higher register with the same bass note but more sustain.
D diminished 7th is played in open position as × × 0 1 0 1: index finger on the G string at fret 1 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 1. The D and B strings ring open. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Tip — The open voicing requires muting two low strings while fretting two strings cleanly.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | open | — | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | C♭ (♭♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 1 | 2 | F (♭3) |
D diminished 7th is played at the 3rd fret as × 5 3 4 3 4: barre your index finger across fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 5, middle finger on the G string at fret 4 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 4. The low E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 2 | C♭ (♭♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 3 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (♭5) |
D diminished 7th is played at the 4th fret as × 5 6 4 6 4: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the A string at fret 5, ring finger on the D string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 6. The low E string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 5 | 2 | D (1) |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♭ (♭♭7) |
| 2 (B) | 6 | 4 | F (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭5) |
D diminished 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 11 9 10 9 ×: barre your index finger across fret 9, middle finger on the low E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 10. The high e string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 4 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♭ (♭♭7) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 3 | F (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 1 (barre) | A♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
D diminished 7th is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 12 10 12 10: barre your index finger across fret 10, middle finger on the A string at fret 11, ring finger on the D string at fret 12 and pinky finger on the B string at fret 12.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
| 5 (A) | 11 | 2 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 12 | 3 | D (1) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 1 (barre) | F (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | 12 | 4 | C♭ (♭♭7) |
| 1 (e) | 10 | 1 (barre) | D (1) |
D diminished 7th is written D°7 or Ddim7.
D diminished 7th has a ♭♭7 (C♭), while D minor 7th flat 5th has a ♭7 (C). The diminished 7th chord is more dissonant and symmetrical.
D diminished 7th contains two diminished 5th intervals, creating strong tension. The chord wants to resolve, usually to a chord a half step above one of its notes.