Ddim7 Guitar Chord

Ddim7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Shape 1/3

Chord shapes:(3 positions)

Standard

Arpeggio for this shape

P - i - m - a - m - i · Smooth Bossa (2/4 · 6 notes · Level 2)

From the bass on the 4th to the 1st string there are 4 different notes. Six plucks give time to hear them. All 6 arpeggios

Subtle syncopation and oscillating timbre.

Speed:

What sets Ddim7 apart

Play Ddim7 one string at a time and you hear D, F, Ab and Cb. D is the root, F the minor third, Ab the flat fifth and Cb the diminished seventh. Said aloud, its notes are D, F, A flat and C flat. Each note sits three semitones above the one before. Slide the same shape three frets and you get the same notes.

From the low string to the high one you hear D, Ab, Cb and F. The lowest note is D on string 4 and the highest is F on string 1.

Ddim7 lets two strings ring open. String 4 gives D and string 2 gives Cb. Strings 6 and 5 are not played. Every finger presses at fret 1. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 4 and 9.

Dm6 is one change away. String 3 moves from fret 1 to fret 2, bringing in A, the fifth of Dm6. It shares two notes with Bb, D and F.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Recommended practice sequences

01C C - Am - Dm - G7 02G G - Em - Am - D7 03D D - Bm - Em - A7 04A A - F#m - Bm - E7

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Ddim7)

Formula: Diminished Seventh (1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7)

Constituent chord intervals:

D 1F ♭3Ab ♭5Cb 𝄫7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)4th String (D) • Fret 0 (D)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Ddim7:

Select each shape in the diagram above to view and listen to it

Standard

Standard Position

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

5th String (A)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

4th String (D)

○Open

DDegree 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 1Finger 1

2nd String (B)

○Open

1st String (High E)

Fret 1Finger 2

FDegree ♭3

Placement tip: Press: 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 1 with your Middle finger. Play open: 4th String (D), 2nd String (B). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

Fret 5

Inversion

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

5th String (A)

Fret 5Finger 2

DDegree 1

4th String (D)

Fret 6Finger 4

3rd String (G)

Fret 4Finger 1

2nd String (B)

Fret 6Finger 3

FDegree ♭3

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 5 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 6 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 4 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 6 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Root on string 6

Inversion

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)

String Control (Muted & Active):

Root

6th String (Low E)

Fret 10Finger 2

DDegree 1

5th String (A)

×Muted

Do not play

4th String (D)

Fret 9Finger 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 10Finger 3

FDegree ♭3

2nd String (B)

Fret 9Finger 1

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 10 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 10 with your Ring finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 9 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Ddim7)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

Item	In this chord
Frets	fret 1
Fretting fingers	2
Open	4th and 2nd
Muted	6th and 5th

What to check

The open 4th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Ddim7

Listen: Ddim7 → Em · A7 · G

Ddim7
Em
Ddim7
A7
Ddim7
G

Ddim7 → Em01

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 1: string 5, fret 2
finger 2: string 4, fret 2

Ddim7 → A702

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 4 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 1: string 4, fret 2
finger 2: string 2, fret 2

Ddim7 → G03

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 6 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 2: string 6, fret 3
finger 1: string 5, fret 2
finger 3: string 1, fret 3

Ddim7 in every key

This chord type does not belong naturally to a major or minor scale: it is used as colour or passing tension.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty: 2/5
Highest fret: 1
Frets the hand covers: 1
Barre: No
Strings that ring: 4/6
Fretting fingers: 2

Ddim7 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Ddim7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Ddim7 chord?

To play the Ddim7 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 4 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Ddim7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Ddim7 chord is its root note: D. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 4 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Ddim7 chord and what is its formula?

The Ddim7 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7 formula (Diminished Seventh). Its constituent pitches are D, F, Ab, Cb.

How do you prevent the Ddim7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Ddim7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Ddim7 chord diagram

Ddim7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the D family:

Chord D Chord Db Chord Dm Chord D7 Chord Db7 Chord Dmaj7 Chord Dbmaj7 Chord Dm7