Hey Friend,

Let's start looking at the last natural triad you'll find in the key of E major - D# Diminished (D#°).

Let's review the E major scale so we know which notes we'll be working with here:

For this scale we have the three notes we need to form the D# diminished triad. Remember, a triad use the 1, 3 and 5 notes from the scale derived from the key the chord is named after. In the case of D# diminished, that would be the key of D#.

Unfortunately, D# is one of those weird keys that throws off the balance a bit and causes you to have to skip over notes or mess with double sharps - super confusing.

So instead, when looking at major keys, academics tend to use the lesser of two evils, and in this case, the key is Eb (E flat).

A D# diminished chord would use the 1 3m 5b (minor third and flat 5) notes from this scale, but then we'd want to call it an Eb diminished chord. However, that one doesn't show up naturally in any major or minor key. 

So let's transcribe these three notes into something we can use:

That gives us D#, F# and A. Do those three notes look familiar from the key of E?

The interesting thing about chords that work naturally within a key is you get to use the notes from the key you're currently working with, as you see there.

Work up the scale from octave to octave and you see the repetition:

So in the key of E major, with the naturally occurring notes D#, F# and A, we get our D#° chord.

Does that make sense? Hey, I get it if it looks like I'm writing out some foreign language. Heck, I still have to count out notes on my fingers and toes!

I'll have the exercise files for you tomorrow. For now, just read through this again and let it sink in. And send me any questions you have. 

I get to do plumbing work today and continue with my drywall fun. Have a great one!

Peace~

Dave