D♯ diminished chord on ukulele (D♯dim)

D♯dim is D♯, F♯ and A. The easiest shape is 2-3-2-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

2-3-2-0 · open · easy

Notes: D♯ · F♯ · A
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
First shape: 2-3-2-0

How to play D♯dim on ukulele

Shape 1, 2-3-2-0, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 2nd fret (A).
Middle finger: E string, 2nd fret (F♯).
Ring finger: C string, 3rd fret (D♯).
Let the open A string ring (A).

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play D♯dim

8-6-5-6: movable shape at the 5th fret, medium. Same notes, stacked differently, so it sounds a little different.
11-9-11-9: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

D♯dim chord changes

The chords D♯dim usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.

E (leads up a half step): D♯dim (2-3-2-0) to E (1-4-0-2): move the index finger to the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the C string, 4th fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. E on ukulele
Em (leads up a half step): D♯dim (2-3-2-0) to Em (0-4-3-2): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the C string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Em on ukulele
G♯m (iii in E major): D♯dim (2-3-2-0) to G♯m (4-3-4-2): the index finger goes to the A string, 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the C string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the G string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the E string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for D♯, which stays put while the rest moves. G♯m on ukulele

D♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. All 3 notes of D♯dim fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting D♯dim under your fingers

Arpeggiate 2-3-2-0 from the lowest string: A, D♯, F♯, A. Then strum it and listen for the same 4 notes together. Next, alternate 2-3-2-0 and 8-6-5-6, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

E♭dim is another spelling of D♯dim. Same shape, same sound.

D♯dim in context

D♯dim on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try D♯dim on piano or D♯dim on guitar, or compare them on the D♯dim chord page.

Close to D♯dim

Other diminished chords

D♯dim on ukulele: questions

What notes are in D♯dim on ukulele?

D♯, F♯ and A. In the 2-3-2-0 shape the strings play A (G string), D♯ (C string), F♯ (E string) and A (A string, open), so A is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play D♯dim on ukulele?

2-3-2-0, the first shape on this page. Open strings do part of the work, so no barre.

Is D♯dim a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 2-3-2-0 needs no barre.

Which string does D♯dim start on?

In the 2-3-2-0 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 2nd fret, which is A, the diminished fifth.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside D♯dim. Updated September 2026.