Also written Fdim7 or F°7
F diminished 7th contains F, A♭, C♭, and E♭♭. Its open position uses the open D string, creating a ringing, resonant sound.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
F diminished 7th is built from the intervals 1, ♭3, ♭5, and ♭♭7 — a stack of three minor 3rds. The diminished 5th between F and C♭ gives the chord its unstable, tense quality. Compare it with F minor 7th flat 5th, which raises the seventh from E♭♭ to E♭.
F diminished 7th often appears as a passing chord in jazz and classical music. It can resolve to F minor 7th flat 5th or G major. F diminished 7th suits dramatic transitions and chromatic bass lines.
The open position keeps F as the lowest note, giving a clear root-position sound. The Fdim7/A♭ inversion places A♭ in the bass, creating a darker, less stable voicing. Choose the root position for foundational bass lines and inversions for smoother voice leading.
F diminished 7th is played in open position as 1 2 0 1: index finger on the E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 2 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1. The D string rings open.
Tip — The open D string must ring clearly while the surrounding fingers fret nearby notes, requiring precise finger placement.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | open | — | E♭♭ (♭♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
F diminished 7th is played at the 12th fret as 13 14 12 13: middle finger on the E string at fret 13, pinky finger on the A string at fret 14, index finger on the D string at fret 12 and ring finger on the G string at fret 13.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 2 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 4 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 12 | 1 | E♭♭ (♭♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 3 | A♭ (♭3) |
F diminished 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 4 5 3 4: middle finger on the E string at fret 4, pinky finger on the A string at fret 5, index finger on the D string at fret 3 and ring finger on the G string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 5 | 4 | E♭♭ (♭♭7) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 1 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 4 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
F diminished 7th is played at the 6th fret as 7 8 6 7: middle finger on the E string at fret 7, pinky finger on the A string at fret 8, index finger on the D string at fret 6 and ring finger on the G string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 7 | 2 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 4 | F (1) |
| 2 (D) | 6 | 1 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 7 | 3 | E♭♭ (♭♭7) |
F diminished 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 11 9 10: middle finger on the E string at fret 10, pinky finger on the A string at fret 11, index finger on the D string at fret 9 and ring finger on the G string at fret 10.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 10 | 2 | E♭♭ (♭♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 11 | 4 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 9 | 1 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (G) | 10 | 3 | F (1) |
F diminished 7th is written as F°7 or Fdim7.
F diminished 7th has a double-flatted seventh (E♭♭), while F minor 7th flat 5th has a minor seventh (E♭). The diminished 7th chord is more dissonant and symmetrical.
F diminished 7th contains two diminished 5th intervals: F–C♭ and A♭–E♭♭. These tritones create a strong pull toward resolution.