Learn › D Diminished Chord on Piano (Ddim)
New Released in April 2026
D Diminished Chord on Piano (Ddim)
To play Ddim on the piano, press D, F, Ab together. Start from Dm and move the fifth down a semitone: that one key turns it into Ddim. Below: the keyboard, the three positions, how it compares with D and Dm, and where it goes next.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
The D diminished chord and its inversions
Move the lowest note up an octave to reach the next position.
Root position: D F Ab
1st inversion: F Ab D
2nd inversion: Ab D F
- Root position: starts on D, a white key; black keys: Ab
- 1st inversion: starts on F, a white key; black keys: Ab
- 2nd inversion: starts on Ab, a black key; black keys: Ab
Train Ddim in a game
In ChordRunner Ddim rides towards your runner between other chords: play it in time. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play Ddim on the piano?
Press D, F, Ab together: right hand 1-3-5 with the thumb on D, left hand 5-3-1 with the little finger on D.
What is the difference between Ddim and Dm?
One note. Dm has A on top; Ddim moves it to Ab. The new fifth is what gives Ddim its tense sound.
Where does Ddim go?
Ddim is the vii° chord of Eb major and the ii° chord of C minor. It wants to move up a semitone: Ddim → Eb / Ebm, the bottom note rising to the new root.
Can I practise Ddim with a MIDI keyboard or microphone?
Yes. ChordRunner detects a USB MIDI keyboard automatically and also hears an acoustic piano through the microphone. Ddim counts in any position, as long as D, F, Ab sound together.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
D Major Chord on Piano (D)
The D major chord, D: notes D F# A, where it sits on the keys, its inversions and the 7 chords that go with it…
D Minor Chord on Piano (Dm)
How to play D minor (Dm) on the piano: the notes D F A on a keyboard, both hands, three inversions and the cho…
D Augmented Chord on Piano (Daug)
How to play the D augmented chord (Daug) on piano: D F# A#, both hands, three positions and its resolution.…
Diminished Chords Explained
Diminished triads, fully diminished 7ths and half-diminished chords explained, with a game level that drills a…
Piano Chord Chart: Every Chord in All 12 Keys
Piano chord chart with the notes of 288 chords: major, minor, 7ths, 9ths, sus and more in all 12 keys. Click a…
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…