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F♯ diminished chord on guitar (F♯dim)
Also called or written F♯dim or F♯°
F♯ diminished is built from F♯, A, and C. The 2nd fret shape is movable and mutes both the B and high E strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionF♯–A–CF♯dim2-3-4-2-×-×
- First inversionA–C–F♯F♯dim/A5-3-4-5-×-×
- Second inversionC–F♯–AF♯dim/C×-3-4-2-×-×
How do you play an F♯ diminished chord on guitar?
F♯ diminished is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 4 2 × ×: index finger on the low 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. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe 2nd fret shape demands a three-fret stretch across the low strings and precise muting of the B and high E strings, making it intermediate.
9th fret
F♯ diminished is played at the 9th fret as × 9 10 11 10 ×: index finger on the A string at fret 9, middle finger on the D string at fret 10, pinky finger on the G string at fret 11 and ring finger on the B string at fret 10. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 2 | C (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 3 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
F♯dim/A inversion · fret 3
F♯ diminished is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 4 5 × ×: ring finger on the low 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. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
F♯dim/A inversion · fret 5
F♯ diminished is played at the 5th fret as × × 7 5 7 5: ring finger on the D string at fret 7, index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the B string at fret 7 and middle finger on the high e string at fret 5. 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) | 7 | 3 | A (♭3) |
| 3 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | 7 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (e) | 5 | 2 | A (♭3) |
F♯dim/A inversion · fret 10
F♯ diminished is played at the 10th fret as × 12 10 11 10 ×: pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 10, ring finger on the G string at fret 11 and middle finger on the B string at fret 10. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (♭3) |
| 4 (D) | 10 | 1 | C (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | 10 | 2 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ diminished uses the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, producing F♯, A, and C. The flattened fifth gives the chord its tense, unstable quality. Contrast it with F♯ minor, which has a perfect fifth.
What goes wrong with F♯ diminished?
- Letting the B string ring out, adding a B that is not part of 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 4th fret note to buzz.
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 rock or jazz for a tense, dark color.
Changing to and from F♯ diminished
- Slide the 2nd fret shape up one fret to the 3rd fret to get G diminished.
- Move to F♯ minor by lifting the pinky from the D string's 4th fret and playing the 4th fret on the G string instead.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret shape is the most common and keeps the root F♯ in the bass. The 9th fret shape repeats the voicing higher. The F♯dim/A inversions place A in the bass, creating a more ambiguous sound.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ diminished written?
F♯ diminished is written as F♯° or F♯dim. On a keyboard, use F# for the root. 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 flattened fifth (C), while F♯ minor has a perfect fifth (C♯). The diminished fifth creates a more dissonant, tense sound.
Why are the B and high E strings muted in the 2nd fret shape?
The open B and high E strings are not chord tones of F♯ diminished. Muting them keeps the voicing clean and prevents an unwanted major second clash.