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F diminished major 7th chord on bass (FdimMaj7)
Also called or written FdimMaj7, FdimM7, F°M7, F augmented minor seventh or F minor seventh sharp five
F diminished major 7th contains F, A♭, C♭, and E. The 1st-fret shape is the lowest voicing, and an easier inversion at the 1st fret uses an open E string.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
How do you play an F diminished major 7th chord on bass?
F diminished major 7th is played at the 1st fret as 1 2 2 1: index finger on the E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 2 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 4 | E (7) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
AdvancedF diminished major 7th requires the ring finger and pinky to fret adjacent strings at the same fret while the index and middle hold the lower fret.
13th fret
F diminished major 7th is played at the 13th fret as 13 14 14 13: index finger on the E string at fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 14, pinky finger on the D string at fret 14 and middle finger on the G string at fret 13.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 14 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 14 | 4 | E (7) |
| 1 (G) | 13 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
FdimM7/E inversion
F diminished major 7th is played in open position as 0 2 3 1: middle finger on the A string at fret 2, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and index finger on the G string at fret 1. The E string rings open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (7) |
| 3 (A) | 2 | 2 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 1 | 1 | A♭ (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
F diminished major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7. The diminished 5th between F and C♭ creates a tritone that gives the chord its dark color. The major 7th E is a leading tone that resolves upward to F. Compare with F minor 7th flat 5th, which has E♭ instead of E.
What goes wrong with F diminished major 7th?
- Letting the ring finger flatten onto the 2nd string, which deadens the A♭.
- Pressing the index finger too hard, causing the 4th string to buzz against the fret.
- Allowing the pinky to drift sharp, making the 2nd string note sound out of tune.
When to use it
F diminished major 7th works as a passing chord in F minor, often between F minor and F minor 7th. Its tense sound suits jazz ballads and dramatic film cues. Use it to add chromatic motion on the bass.
Changing to and from F diminished major 7th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ diminished major 7th.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives G diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 1st-fret position places the root F on the 4th string, giving a solid low foundation. The FdimM7/E inversion at the 1st fret puts E in the bass, creating a different color while keeping the same notes.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F diminished major 7th written?
F diminished major 7th is written F°M7 or FdimM7. The root is F.
What is the difference between F diminished major 7th and F minor 7th flat 5th?
F diminished major 7th has a major 7th (E), while F minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th (E♭). The major 7th creates a leading tone that pulls strongly to the octave.
Which inversion of F diminished major 7th is easier for beginners?
The FdimM7/E inversion at the 1st fret is easier because it uses an open E string and lower frets. However, the root position is more common for moving up the neck.