D#dim Guitar Chord (D Sharp Diminished)

Q: What notes are in the D#dim chord?

D♯dim has 3 notes: D♯, F♯ and A . Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5: D♯ is the root, F♯ a minor 3rd and A a diminished 5th above it.

Q: How do you play D#dim on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx12x2 (at the 1st fret). Put your index finger (1) on the 1st fret of the D (4th) string. Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string. Put your ring finger (3) on the 2nd fret of the high E (1st) string. Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X). Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

The D#dim guitar chord (D sharp diminished, also written E♭dim) has 3 notes: D♯, F♯ and A. Below you'll find 4 shapes with diagrams, how to play it step by step, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

xx12x2 · at the 1st fret

Notes: D♯ – F♯ – A
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Type: diminished
Also written: E♭dim
Difficulty: easy

Transpose a song

All 4 ways to play D#dim on guitar

xx12x2 at the 1st fret
x64x45 at the 4th fret
x6787x at the 6th fret
11-9-x-11-10-x at the 9th fret

Diagrams: strings run from the lowest on the left; X = don't play, O = open string, numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger).

How to play D#dim on guitar

Main shape: xx12x2 (at the 1st fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 1st fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 2nd fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

D#dim notes and intervals

Note	Formula	Interval from the root
D♯	1	root
F♯	♭3	minor 3rd
A	♭5	diminished 5th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: D♯dim/F♯ (1st inversion) and D♯dim/A (2nd inversion).

D#dim on piano and ukulele

D♯dim on piano D♯ – F♯ – A
D♯dim on ukulele 2320

Which keys use D#dim?

D♯dim is one of the basic chords of 2 keys. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

Key	Written	Numeral	Function
E major	D♯°	vii°	dominant
C♯ minor	D♯°	ii°	predominant
E minor	D♯°	vii°	dominant (harmonic minor)

Transpose D#dim

Move the chord up or down by semitones to see its name and notes in another key.

D♯dim D♯ F♯ A original

Diminished chords on every root: B♭dim Bdim Cdim C♯dim Ddim D♯dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim A♭dim Adim

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the D#dim chord?

D♯dim has 3 notes: D♯, F♯ and A. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5: D♯ is the root, F♯ a minor 3rd and A a diminished 5th above it.

Is D#dim the same as Ebdim?

Yes. D♯ and E♭ are two names for the same note (the same piano key and the same fret), so D♯dim and E♭dim sound the same and use the same shapes. The name follows the key: D♯° in E major and C♯ minor.

What key is D#dim in?

D♯dim is vii° in E major and ii° in C♯ minor. It is also vii° in E minor (harmonic minor, with the raised 7th). The other chords of E major are E, F♯m, G♯m, A, B and C♯m.

How do you play D#dim on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx12x2 (at the 1st fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 1st fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 2nd fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

What is a diminished chord?

A diminished chord has a root, a minor 3rd and a diminished 5th (1–♭3–♭5). It is written dim or °. In a major key, the chord on the 7th note (vii°) is diminished.

How many ways can you play D#dim on guitar?

This page shows 4 shapes: xx12x2 (at the 1st fret), x64x45 (at the 4th fret), x6787x (at the 6th fret) and 11-9-x-11-10-x (at the 9th fret). All of them contain the chord's essential notes.

More chords

Last updated: October 12, 2026