D♯ Half Diminished
Also Known As
Hear the D♯ Half Diminished chord played for you.
D♯ø7
D♯ – F♯ – A – C♯
Formula:R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals:P1-m3-d5-m7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5-b7
Introduction
The D♯ Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of D♯, F♯, A, and C♯. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
The D# Half Diminished piano chord (D#m7b5) consists of the notes D#, F#, A, C#. It is a diminished triad with an added minor 7th, giving it a dark, moody, and tense character commonly used in jazz and minor key progressions. Formula: R-m3-d5-m7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5-b7.
Notes
D♯ Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D# – F# – A – C# |
| 1st Inversion | F# – A – C# – D# |
| 2nd Inversion | A – C# – D# – F# |
| 3rd Inversion | D# – F# – A – C# |
Key Signature
The key of D# Half Diminished (enharmonically equivalent to Eb Half Diminished) has 3 flats.
B♭E♭A♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of D# Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the D# major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — D♯ Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals: P1-m3-d5-m7
The D♯ Half Diminished is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
D♯ Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the D# Half Diminished chord?
D# Half Diminished is built from the D# root. Check the interactive keyboard above for exact notes and fingering.
How is the D# Half Diminished chord used in music?
D# Half Diminished appears in jazz, pop, and classical contexts. Its sound depends on the chord quality (Half Diminished).
What is the fingering for D# Half Diminished?
See the fingering chart above. Right hand typically uses thumb on root. Left hand uses pinky on root.
What are the inversions of D# Half Diminished?
Use the inversion buttons above to see each inversion with notes, fingering, and staff notation.
What is the ii-V-i progression with D# Half Diminished?
D# Half Diminished functions as the ii chord in minor-key jazz harmony, resolving through the V7 to the minor tonic.
Practice Tips
- Minor-key ii–V–i is essential jazz vocabulary.
- Compare with D#dim7 and D#m7.
- The flatted fifth creates the half-diminished tension.
- Essential for jazz minor keys.
- The ø symbol means half-diminished.
- Practice in context of minor-key progressions.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.