D diminished chord on ukulele (Ddim)
Ddim is D, F and A♭. The usual shape is 7-5-4-5. Hit Play and watch each string light as it sounds.
7-5-4-5 · movable · medium
- Notes
- D · F · A♭
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 7-5-4-5
How to play Ddim on ukulele
Shape 1, 7-5-4-5, reading from the G string on the left, starts at the 4th fret:
- Put your index finger on the E string at the 4th fret, which is A♭.
- Put your middle finger on the C string at the 5th fret, which is F.
- Put your ring finger on the A string at the 5th fret, which is D.
- Put your pinky finger on the G string at the 7th fret, which is D.
- This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
- The shape stretches across four frets. Bring your thumb lower behind the neck to open the hand up.
- Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.
Other ways to play Ddim
- 10-8-10-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.
Ddim chord changes
The chords Ddim usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- E♭ (leads up a half step): Ddim (7-5-4-5) to E♭ (0-3-3-1): your index finger lands on the A string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the C string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the E string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E♭ on ukulele
- E♭m (leads up a half step): Ddim (7-5-4-5) to E♭m (3-3-2-1): your index finger lands on the A string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the G string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E♭m on ukulele
- Gm (iii in E♭ major): Ddim (7-5-4-5) to Gm (0-2-3-1): the index finger goes to the A string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the C string, 2nd fret, move the ring finger to the E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. D carries over from one chord to the other. Gm on ukulele
Ddim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. All 3 notes of Ddim fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.
A short Ddim drill
Arpeggiate 7-5-4-5 from the lowest string: D, F, A♭, D. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Finish by moving between 7-5-4-5 and 10-8-10-8 to learn two positions of the same chord.
Where Ddim shows up
Ddim on guitar and piano
Ddim on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.
Next to try on ukulele
Other diminished chords
Ddim on ukulele: questions
What notes are in Ddim on ukulele?
D, F and A♭. In the 7-5-4-5 shape the strings play D (G string), F (C string), A♭ (E string) and D (A string), so D is doubled.
What's the easiest way to play Ddim on ukulele?
In standard tuning Ddim can't use open strings. Begin with 7-5-4-5. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and in many songs a capo can take over part of the work.
Is Ddim a barre chord on ukulele?
Not usually: 7-5-4-5 needs no barre.
Which string does Ddim start on?
In the 7-5-4-5 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 7th fret, which is D, the root.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes D, F and A♭ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.