Notes and intervals of D♯ half-diminished
- D♯1 · root
- F♯♭3 · minor third
- A♭5 · diminished fifth
- C♯♭7 · minor seventh
It's the second degree in minor keys (iiø–V7–i), very common in boleros, tango and jazz.
Progressions with D♯m7♭5
ii–V–i in minor: iiø7 – V7 – i
The minor cadence of boleros, tangos and jazz, in C♯ natural minor.
Which keys contain D♯ half-diminished?
D♯m7♭5 belongs to 2 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| E major | viiø7 |
| C♯ natural minor | iiø7 |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the D-sharp half-diminished chord?
D♯ half-diminished (D♯m7♭5) has 4 notes: D♯ (root), F♯ (minor third), A (diminished fifth), C♯ (minor seventh).
How do you play D♯ half-diminished on guitar?
The most common shape starts at fret 6: x 6 7 6 7 x (from the 6th to the 1st string). Finger 1 (index) on fret 6 of the 5th string (A). Finger 3 (ring) on fret 7 of the 4th string (D). Finger 2 (middle) on fret 6 of the 3rd string (G). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 7 of the 2nd string (B). Don’t play the 6th or 1st strings: strum from the 5th.
Is D♯m7♭5 the same as E♭m7♭5?
Yes: D♯ half-diminished and E♭ half-diminished sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the key of the song; you will see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
How do you write D♯ half-diminished in chord notation?
It's written D♯m7♭5; you'll also see D♯ø or D♯m7b5. Letter-based chord notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A, and B for the notes.