Piano chords · Diminished chord
D♯dim piano chord (D♯ diminished)
D♯dim (also written E♭dim) is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
D♯ – F♯ – A · tap any key to hear it
The notes of D♯dim
D♯dim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- D♯, the root
- F♯, the minor third
- A, the diminished fifth
D♯ and F♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on D♯, 3 on F♯, 5 on A.
- Left hand: 5 on D♯, 3 on F♯, 1 on A.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | D♯ – F♯ – A |
| 1st inversion | F♯ – A – D♯ |
| 2nd inversion | A – D♯ – F♯ |
Where D♯dim belongs
D♯dim is the vii° chord in E major, the chord that leads up a half step to E.
D♯dim is D♯m with the fifth lowered a half step (A♯ becomes A). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
E – A – D♯dim – E: I – IV – vii° – I in E major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the D♯dim chord?
D♯dim (D♯ diminished) is made of D♯, F♯ and A: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play D♯dim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on D♯, 3 on F♯, 5 on A, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on D♯, 3 on F♯, 1 on A.
How is D♯dim different from the plain chord?
D♯dim is D♯m with the fifth lowered a half step (A♯ becomes A). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.