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F♯ diminished chord on bass (F♯dim)
Also called or written F♯dim or F♯°
F♯ diminished contains F♯, A, and C. The 2nd fret position is compact but demands precise finger placement.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
How do you play an F♯ diminished chord on bass?
F♯ diminished is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 4 2: index finger on the E string at fret 2, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 4 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (♭3) |
IntermediateThe pinky must reach the 4th fret on the D string while the index and middle fingers hold the 2nd fret on the outer strings.
F♯dim/A inversion
F♯ diminished is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 4 5: ring finger on the E string at fret 5, index finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (♭5) |
F♯dim/C inversion · fret 2
F♯ diminished is played at the 2nd fret as × 3 4 2: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 4 and index finger on the G string at fret 2. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 4 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (♭3) |
F♯dim/C inversion · fret 7
F♯ diminished is played at the 7th fret as 8 9 7 ×: middle finger on the E string at fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 9 and index finger on the D string at fret 7. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ diminished is built from the 1, ♭3, ♭5 formula. The diminished 5th between F♯ and C gives it a tense, unstable sound. Compare it to F♯ minor, which has a perfect 5th (C♯).
What goes wrong with F♯ diminished?
- Letting the ring finger flatten and mute the D string.
- Allowing the middle finger to touch the A string and mute the A.
When to use it
F♯ diminished works over F♯ minor and F♯ 5th chords. It also fits A major and A minor progressions. Use it for chromatic passing lines in rock or jazz.
Changing to and from F♯ diminished
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives F diminished.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G diminished.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret position puts F♯ in the bass for a root-position sound. The F♯dim/A inversion starts on A at the 3rd fret, giving a slightly darker, less stable feel.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ diminished written?
F♯ diminished is written F♯° or F♯dim. The root is typed as F# in ASCII. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ diminished and F♯ minor?
F♯ diminished has a diminished 5th (C), while F♯ minor has a perfect 5th (C♯). The lowered fifth creates the diminished chord's unstable quality.
Can F♯ diminished be played in a lower register?
Yes, the F♯dim/C inversion at the 2nd fret on the G string uses only three strings, starting on C. It omits the low E string for a lighter texture.