Fdim Guitar Chord (F Diminished)

Q: What notes are in the Fdim chord?

Fdim has 3 notes: F, A♭ and C♭ . Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5: F is the root, A♭ a minor 3rd and C♭ a diminished 5th above it. C♭ is the same key as B.

Q: How do you play Fdim on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx34x4 (at the 3rd fret). Put your index finger (1) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string. Put your middle finger (2) on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string. Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th fret of the high E (1st) string. Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X). Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

The Fdim guitar chord (F diminished) has 3 notes: F, A♭ and C♭. Below you'll find 6 shapes with diagrams, how to play it step by step, the keys it belongs to and common progressions that use it.

xx34x4 · at the 3rd fret

Notes: F – A♭ – C♭
Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Type: diminished
Difficulty: easy

Transpose a song

All 6 ways to play Fdim on guitar

xx34x4 at the 3rd fret
123104 open position
xx3404 open position
x86x67 at the 6th fret
x-8-9-10-9-x at the 8th fret
13-11-x-13-12-x at the 11th fret

Diagrams: strings run from the lowest on the left; X = don't play, O = open string, numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little finger).

How to play Fdim on guitar

Main shape: xx34x4 (at the 3rd fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

Fdim notes and intervals

Note	Formula	Interval from the root
F	1	root
A♭	♭3	minor 3rd
C♭ (= B)	♭5	diminished 5th

Inversions: the same notes with another one in the bass, written as slash chords: Fdim/A♭ (1st inversion) and Fdim/C♭ (2nd inversion).

Fdim on piano and ukulele

Fdim on piano F – A♭ – C♭
Fdim on ukulele 4542

Which keys use Fdim?

Fdim is one of the basic chords of 2 keys. Its number (Roman numeral) and job change with the key:

Key	Written	Numeral	Function
F♯ major	E♯°	vii°	dominant
D♯ minor	E♯°	ii°	predominant
F♯ minor	E♯°	vii°	dominant (harmonic minor)

Transpose Fdim

Move the chord up or down by semitones to see its name and notes in another key.

Fdim F A♭ C♭ original

Diminished chords on every root: Cdim C♯dim Ddim E♭dim Edim Fdim F♯dim Gdim A♭dim Adim B♭dim Bdim

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Fdim chord?

Fdim has 3 notes: F, A♭ and C♭. Its formula is 1 – ♭3 – ♭5: F is the root, A♭ a minor 3rd and C♭ a diminished 5th above it. C♭ is the same key as B.

What key is Fdim in?

Written E♯°, it is vii° in F♯ major and ii° in D♯ minor. It is also vii° in F♯ minor (harmonic minor, with the raised 7th). The other chords of F♯ major are F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯ and D♯m.

How do you play Fdim on guitar?

The shape in the main diagram is xx34x4 (at the 3rd fret).

Put your index finger (1) on the 3rd fret of the D (4th) string.
Put your middle finger (2) on the 4th fret of the G (3rd) string.
Put your ring finger (3) on the 4th fret of the high E (1st) string.
Don't play the low E (6th), A (5th) or B (2nd) strings (marked X).
Strum from the D (4th) string down (3 strings).

What is a diminished chord?

A diminished chord has a root, a minor 3rd and a diminished 5th (1–♭3–♭5). It is written dim or °. In a major key, the chord on the 7th note (vii°) is diminished.

How many ways can you play Fdim on guitar?

This page shows 6 shapes: xx34x4 (at the 3rd fret), 123104 (open position), xx3404 (open position), x86x67 (at the 6th fret), x-8-9-10-9-x (at the 8th fret) and 13-11-x-13-12-x (at the 11th fret). All of them contain the chord's essential notes.

Is Fdim hard to play on guitar?

No: the easiest shape (xx3404) has no barre and uses 3 fingers, so it is one of the easier chords to learn. (Difficulty here is a rough guide based on barres, stretches and the number of fingers.)

More chords

Last updated: October 12, 2026