D Half-diminished Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio in Open A tuning — fretboard diagram
D Half-diminished in Open A — Notes and Intervals
Notes: D, F, Ab, C
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5d, 7m
Formula: WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 4
Tuning: Open A (E-A-E-A-C#-E)
Also known as: m7b5, ø, -7b5, h7, h
The D Half-diminished arpeggio contains 4 notes (D, F, Ab, C). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this arpeggio on 6-string guitar — Open A with different tunings and fret ranges.
About Open A Tuning
Open A tuning (E-A-E-A-C#-E) produces an A major chord when strummed open. It is structurally identical to Open G tuned up one whole step, delivering a brighter, more tense sound that works particularly well for slide guitar centered on the key of A.
Jimmy Page used Open A with a slide on Led Zeppelin's 'In My Time of Dying' from Physical Graffiti (1975). Rory Gallagher also employed Open A for his raw, energetic slide work. Many players achieve Open A by simply placing a capo at the 2nd fret in Open G tuning, which is why dedicated Open A usage is less commonly discussed. However, without a capo, Open A gives direct access to the open A string resonance and a different feel under the fingers due to the higher tension.
Notable artists: Jimmy Page, Rory Gallagher, Delta blues players
Best for: Slide guitar in the key of A, blues playing, and situations where you need the brightness of Open G tuned up without a capo
Explore This Arpeggio in Other Tunings
- D Half-diminished in Standard Tuning
- D Half-diminished in Drop D
- D Half-diminished in DADGAD
- D Half-diminished in Open G
- D Half-diminished in Baritone (B Standard)
- D Half-diminished in 7-string
- D Half-diminished in 8-string
- D Half-diminished in Drop C
- D Half-diminished in Drop B
- D Half-diminished in Open D
- D Half-diminished in Half Step Down
- D Half-diminished in Open E
- D Half-diminished in Double Drop D
- D Half-diminished in Open C