Dm7b5 Ukulele Chord
Dm7b5 on ukulele is 1-2-1-3: barre the 1st fret across the g and E strings with your index finger, put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string and your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string. It is a barre shape, which feels awkward at first but is well worth learning.
- Notes: D, F, Ab and C
- Frets: 1 2 1 3
- Tuning: g C E A
- Looking for D#m7b5? That is Ebm7b5
Dm7b5 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Half-diminished 7th
- Also known as
- D minor seventh flat five
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5 b7
- Intervals
- D (root), F (minor 3rd), Ab (diminished 5th), C (minor 7th)
- Notes
- D, F, Ab and C
- Frets
- 1 2 1 3
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Dm7b5 chord
Here is the Dm7b5 chord step by step:
- Lay your index finger flat across the g and E strings at the 1st fret, a small barre.
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the A string.
- Strum all four strings.
Roll your index finger slightly onto its bony side so it presses every string evenly. Read how to play bar chords if it keeps buzzing. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Dm7b5?
Not really. 1-2-1-3 is already the simplest playable shape for Dm7b5 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the Dm7b5 chord?
The Dm7b5 chord is built from four notes: D, F, Ab and C (the root, minor 3rd, diminished 5th and minor 7th). This half-diminished chord sounds tense and unresolved, a moody favorite in jazz and film music. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Ukulele songs that use the Dm7b5 chord
Want to go further?
Once Dm7b5 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try D7, Dmaj7, Dm and D. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.