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F diminished chord on guitar (Fdim)
Also called or written Fdim or F°
F diminished contains the notes F, A♭, and C♭. The open shape includes the open B string and mutes only the high E string.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionF–A♭–C♭Fdim1-2-3-1-0-×
- First inversionA♭–C♭–FFdim/A♭4-2-3-4-×-×
- Second inversionC♭–F–A♭Fdim/C♭×-2-3-1-0-1
How do you play an F diminished chord on guitar?
F diminished is played in open position as 1 2 3 1 0 ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 2, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and middle finger on the G string at fret 1. The B string rings open. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 4 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 1 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | open | — | C♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe open shape requires a three-fret stretch across the low strings and precise muting of the high E string, making it intermediate.
8th fret
F diminished is played at the 8th fret as × 8 9 10 9 ×: index finger on the A string at fret 8, middle finger on the D string at fret 9, pinky finger on the G string at fret 10 and ring finger on the B string at fret 9. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 8 | 1 | F (1) |
| 4 (D) | 9 | 2 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 10 | 4 | F (1) |
| 2 (B) | 9 | 3 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
13th fret
F diminished is played at the 13th fret as 13 14 15 13 × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 14, pinky finger on the D string at fret 15 and middle finger on the G string at fret 13. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (1) |
| 5 (A) | 14 | 3 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 15 | 4 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 13 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Fdim/A♭ inversion · fret 2
F diminished is played at the 2nd fret as 4 2 3 4 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 4, index finger on the A string at fret 2, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 4. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 4 | 3 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 2 | 1 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (1) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 4 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Fdim/A♭ inversion · fret 4
F diminished is played at the 4th fret as × × 6 4 6 4: ring finger on the D string at fret 6, index finger on the G string at fret 4, pinky finger on the B string at fret 6 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 4. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 6 | 3 | A♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 4 | 1 | C♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | 6 | 4 | F (1) |
| 1 (e) | 4 | 2 | A♭ (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
F diminished is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, giving F, A♭, and C♭. The flattened fifth creates the chord's unstable quality. Compare it to F minor, which raises the fifth to C.
What goes wrong with F diminished?
- Letting the high E string ring out, adding an E that is not part of F diminished.
- Flattening the pinky on the D string, causing the 3rd fret note to buzz.
- Muting the open B string accidentally with the palm, losing the intended open note.
When to use it
F diminished functions as the vii° chord in G♭ major, leading to G♭ major. It also works as a passing chord between F minor and G♭ major. Use it in jazz or classical for a tense, unresolved color.
Changing to and from F diminished
- Slide the 8th fret shape down one fret to the 7th fret to get E diminished.
- Move to F minor by lifting the pinky from the D string's 3rd fret and playing the 3rd fret on the G string instead.
Which voicing to use
The open shape is the most accessible and keeps the root F in the bass. The 8th fret and 13th fret shapes repeat the voicing higher. The Fdim/A♭ inversions place A♭ in the bass, softening the root emphasis.
Other F chords
Common questions
What is the difference between F diminished and F minor?
F diminished has a flattened fifth (C♭), while F minor has a perfect fifth (C). The diminished fifth creates a more dissonant, tense sound.
Can I play F diminished as a barre chord?
The open shape uses no barre, but the 8th fret shape is movable. Slide the 8th fret shape down two frets to get E♭ diminished.
Why is the high E string muted in the open shape?
The open high E string is not a chord tone of F diminished. Muting it keeps the voicing clean and prevents an unwanted major second clash.
How is F diminished written?
F diminished is written as F° or Fdim. The root is F, and the symbols are F° and Fdim.