F♯ diminished major 7th chord on ukulele (F♯dimMaj7)

Why it sounds like that

F♯ diminished major 7th is built from a diminished triad (1, ♭3, ♭5) plus a major 7th. The diminished 5th between F♯ and C gives the chord its tense quality. Compare it with F♯ minor 7th flat 5th, which lowers the 7th to E.

What goes wrong with F♯ diminished major 7th?

• Letting the ring finger touch the open A string, which deadens the E♯.
• Pressing the index finger too flat on the E string, which can mute the C string.
• Strumming too hard, causing the 2nd fret on the E string to buzz.

When to use it

F♯ diminished major 7th works as a passing chord in F♯ minor progressions, such as F♯m–F♯dimM7–F♯m7. Its leading tone E♯ pulls toward F♯, so use it before an F♯ minor or F♯ major resolution. The chord suits jazz ballads and dramatic harmonic turns.

Changing to and from F♯ diminished major 7th

• Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives F diminished major 7th.
• From F♯ diminished major 7th, move to F♯ minor by lifting the middle and ring fingers and placing the index finger on the 2nd fret of the G string.

Which voicing to use

The default voicing places E♯ in the bass, giving a dark first inversion sound. The 10-9-8-9 shape puts A in the bass for a more unstable feel. Choose the 5-5-2-0 grip when you need a compact, mid-position chord.