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F♯ diminished major 7th chord on bass (F♯dimMaj7)
Also called or written F♯dimMaj7, F♯dimM7, F♯°M7, F♯ augmented minor seventh or F♯ minor seventh sharp five
F♯ diminished major 7th contains F♯, A, C, and E♯. The 2nd-fret shape is the lowest movable voicing, and the 14th-fret shape is an octave higher.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
- Root positionF♯–A–C–E♯F♯dimMaj72-3-3-2
- First inversionA–C–E♯–F♯F♯dimMaj7/Ano shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC–E♯–F♯–AF♯dimMaj7/Cno shape on this instrument
- Third inversionE♯–F♯–A–CF♯dimMaj7/E♯no shape on this instrument
How do you play an F♯ diminished major 7th chord on bass?
F♯ diminished major 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 3 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 3 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) | 3 | 4 | E♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 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.
14th fret
F♯ diminished major 7th is played at the 14th fret as 14 15 15 14: index finger on the E string at fret 14, ring finger on the A string at fret 15, pinky finger on the D string at fret 15 and middle finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 14 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 3 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 15 | 4 | E♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 2 | 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 mute the 2nd string, which silences the A.
- Pressing the pinky too lightly, causing the 2nd string to buzz.
- Allowing the index finger to drift sharp, making the 4th string note 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 down one fret to the 1st fret gives F diminished major 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd-fret position places the root F♯ on the 4th string, giving a solid low foundation. The 14th-fret shape is the same voicing an octave higher and is movable.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ diminished major 7th written?
F♯ diminished major 7th is written F♯°M7 or F♯dimM7. The root is F♯, with ASCII spelling F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
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.
Can F♯ diminished major 7th be played in a higher register?
Yes, the 14th-fret position is the same voicing an octave higher. It is movable, so sliding it changes the root.