F♯dim Chord on Guitar
Notes F♯ A C. Start with the open-A shape (x 0 4 2 1 2): open A string, pinky on string 4 fret 4, middle on string 3 fret 2, index on string 2 fret 1, ring on string 1 fret 2.
Chord · F♯dim diminished
F♯dim with the open A string · x 0 4 2 1 2
open strings
F♯dim, root on strings 6 and 4 · 2 x 4 2 1 x
movable, no open strings
Diminished (root on 4th, fret 4) · x x 4 2 1 2
movable, no open strings
Diminished (root on 5th) (fret 9) · x 9 10 11 10 x
movable, no open strings
1 F♯♭3 A♭5 C
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): open
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 2
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 2
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 9
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 10
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 11
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 10
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from F♯ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | root |
| ♭3 | A | minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | C | diminished 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 ♭5 (diminished). Same chord as G♭dim: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written F#dim, F#°, F sharp diminished, G♭dim, G flat diminished.
More on this chord type: Diminished chords
Easier stand-in
D7
F♯dim is D7 without its root. D7 is easier to grip and has the same pull toward G.
Keys that contain F♯dim
| Key | F♯dim is the |
|---|---|
| E minor | ii° |
| G major | vii° |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing F♯dim: what goes wrong
Where F♯dim sits
F♯dim (F♯, A, C) is the vii° chord of G major and the ii° of E minor. In G major the F♯ is the leading tone and pulls up to G, so F♯dim most often leads to G.
The root-position version
The open A string is the 3rd, so the lowest note is not the root. For a root-position sound play x x 4 2 1 2: the same fingers with the open A string left out.
A D7 without the root
F♯, A and C are the 3rd, 5th and ♭7 of D7. Before G, F♯dim can take the place of D7 (x x 0 2 1 2) and leads to G in the same way.
Related chords
Learn and practise F♯dim
- Metronomepractise the change to F♯dim at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in F♯dim?
F♯, A, C: the 1, ♭3, ♭5 of the F♯dim diminished chord. G♭dim is the same chord spelt with a flat.
What is the difference between F♯dim and F♯m?
F♯dim lowers the 5th: F♯, A, C. F♯m is F♯, A, C♯. One note, a semitone apart, changes the chord from tense to calm.