D Diminished Cliché
I – ♯I°7 – ii – V progression in D major
D Diminished Cliché — I – ♯I°7 – ii – V
The D Diminished Cliché (D – D#dim – Em – A) uses a chromatic diminished 7th chord built on the raised first degree as a passing chord between the tonic and ii. This half-step ascent created the nostalgic, sophisticated sound of Tin Pan Alley and 1930s jazz standards. With seventh chords (DMaj7 – D#dim7 – Em7 – A7), the chromatic motion is even smoother.