Explore chords · Ukulele
D diminished major 7th chord on ukulele (DdimMaj7)
Also called or written DdimMaj7, DdimM7, D°M7, D augmented minor seventh or D minor seventh sharp five
D diminished major 7th contains D, F, A♭ and C♯. The 7th fret shape is the same four-finger stretch as A, moved up five frets.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
How do you play a D diminished major 7th chord on ukulele?
D diminished major 7th is played at the 7th fret as 7 8 9 8: index finger on the G string at fret 7, middle finger on the C string at fret 8, pinky finger on the E string at fret 9 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (1) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 2 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 4 | C♯ (7) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 9 on the E string while the ring finger holds fret 8 on the A string, a two-fret stretch.
DdimM7/F inversion
D diminished major 7th is played at the 4th fret as 6 5 4 5: pinky finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, index finger on the E string at fret 4 and ring finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 4 | C♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 1 | A♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 3 | D (1) |
Why it sounds like that
D diminished major 7th is built 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7. The diminished 5th between D and A♭ is a tritone, and the major 7th C♯ is a leading tone to D. Compare it with D minor 7th flat 5th, which has C instead of C♯.
What goes wrong with D diminished major 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the A string.
- Pressing the middle finger too far from the fret, causing the C string to buzz.
When to use it
D diminished major 7th functions as a passing chord in D minor, resolving to D minor or D major. Its leading tone suits jazz and whole-half scale runs.
Changing to and from D diminished major 7th
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 6th fret to reach C♯ diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 7th fret position keeps D in the bass. The DdimM7/C♯ inversion puts C♯ in the bass, creating a tense sound with the leading tone on the bottom.
Other D chords
Common questions
How is D diminished major 7th written?
D diminished major 7th is written D°M7 or DdimM7.
What is the difference between D diminished major 7th and D minor 7th flat 5th?
D diminished major 7th has a major 7th, C♯. D minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th, C.
Why does D diminished major 7th sound unstable?
D diminished major 7th contains a tritone between D and A♭, and the major 7th C♯ creates a strong pull to the root D.