Ddim Ukulele Chord

Ddim is the D diminished chord, a diminished triad. It has three notes: D, F and A♭. It is the one diminished triad with no first position shape on a ukulele: in gCEA tuning those three notes never line up near the nut, so the standard grip sits between the 4th and 7th frets with the root on the G string.

Root on the G string at the 7th fret and again on the A string at the 5th, with F and A♭ between them. The lowest place this chord exists on a ukulele.

How to play Ddim on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: 4th fret, E string
Middle finger: 5th fret, C string
Ring finger: 5th fret, A string
Pinky finger: 7th fret, G string
Strum all four strings.

Watch out for the 1212 grip many songbooks print next to the name Ddim: that shape adds a fourth note, B, and is really Ddim7. The shapes on this page are the plain three note triad.

More ways to play Ddim

There are 2 common Ddim shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Ddim ukulele chord diagram, frets 7 to 10, played 7 8 10 8 — Frets 7 to 10

If it buzzes or sounds dead

The pinky note on the G string is weak: The pinky reaches the 7th fret while the index holds the 4th. Bring the thumb behind the middle of the neck so the fingers approach the strings from above.
Everything feels cramped mid neck: Frets are narrower at the 5th fret than at the nut, so the fingers need to stand more vertically than you are used to. Curl them and lead with the fingertips.
One note is quieter than the rest: All four strings are fretted, so a single lazy finger dulls the chord. Pick the strings one at a time and even out the pressure before strumming.

What makes it a Ddim

D · F · A♭ 1 ♭3 ♭5

Ddim is two minor thirds stacked: D up to F, then F up to A♭. D minor would reach up to A; the diminished chord stops one fret short, and the flat fifth from D to A♭ is what makes it sound unresolved.

Ddim is the leading tone chord of E♭: it sits one fret below and climbs into it. D, F and A♭ are also three of the four notes of B♭7, so the chord pushes toward E♭ exactly the way B♭7 does, just with one note fewer.

Ddim vs Dm

Both start with D and F. D minor finishes with A and sounds settled; Ddim finishes with A♭, one fret lower, and cannot wait to move.

On the ukulele the two also live in different places: Dm is an easy first position chord, while Ddim does not exist down there at all and starts at the 4th fret. If a songbook shows a first position grip for Ddim, check it; it is almost certainly the four note dim7.

Ddim chord questions

Why does Ddim start at the 4th fret?

Because of the tuning. On gCEA strings the notes D, F and A♭ never all fit within reach of the nut, so the lowest honest shape sits mid neck. Every other diminished triad has a lower option; this one does not.

Is the 1212 grip Ddim?

No. That shape sounds A♭, D, F and B, which is Ddim7, the four note diminished seventh. It is a fine chord, but it is not the plain triad, and the two are not always interchangeable.

What does Ddim resolve to?

E♭, one half step up, or E♭ minor. The climb is the chord's whole reason to exist.

Is Ddim hard to play?

The grip itself is one finger per string with no barre. The work is positional: playing mid neck with a reach from the 4th to the 7th fret takes a little more precision than an open chord.

What does D° mean?

The small circle is the standard symbol for diminished. D°, Ddim and D diminished all name the same three notes.