Fdim7 chord
Fdim7 is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫: 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 built on F. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
1-2-0-1-0-1 · open · medium
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C♭ · E𝄫
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- 1-2-0-1-0-1
Fdim7 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · F–A♭–C♭–E𝄫 · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C♭ · E𝄫
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
Fdim7 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-2-1-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C♭ · E𝄫
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
- First shape
- 1-2-1-2
Fdim7 and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Fdim7 → F♯ (leads up a half step)
Guitar: Fdim7 (1-2-0-1-0-1) to F♯ (2-4-4-3-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the A string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once.
Piano: Fdim7 to F♯: play F♯ in root position (F♯–A♯–C♯), while F moves up to F♯, C♭ down to A♯ and E𝄫 down to C♯. F♯ - Fdim7 → F♯m (leads up a half step)
Guitar: Fdim7 (1-2-0-1-0-1) to F♯m (2-4-4-2-2-2): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: Fdim7 to F♯m: play F♯m in root position (F♯–A–C♯), while F moves up to F♯, A♭ up to A and E𝄫 down to C♯. F♯m - Fdim7 → B♭ (a fifth down)
Guitar: Fdim7 (1-2-0-1-0-1) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the D string, 3rd fret, move the ring finger to the G string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. The two chords share F and E𝄫, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Fdim7 to B♭: play B♭ in 2nd inversion (F–B♭–D) and F and D stay under the same fingers, while C♭ moves down to B♭. B♭
How Fdim7 is built
Fdim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. That symmetry means Fdim7 contains exactly the same four notes as G♯dim7, Bdim7 and Ddim7; which name you use depends on the bass note and the key.
From F, go 3 half steps up to A♭, 3 half steps up to C♭ then 3 half steps up to E𝄫.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | root | 0 | |
| A♭ | minor third | 3 | |
| C♭ | diminished fifth | 6 | |
| E𝄫 | diminished seventh | 9 |
Keys and progressions with Fdim7
Fdim7 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
Chords close to Fdim7
- Fdim7 is Fdim plus E𝄫. Fdim
Chords that share most of their notes with Fdim7: Ddim7, G♯dim7, Bdim7, Ddim, Fdim, G♯dim.
Every F chord
Fdim7 chord: questions
What notes are in the Fdim7 chord?
F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. Fdim7 is built 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 from F: A♭ is the minor third, C♭ is the diminished fifth and E𝄫 is the diminished seventh.
How do you play Fdim7 on guitar?
The usual shape is 1-2-0-1-0-1 (open). All 3 guitar shapes.
How do you play Fdim7 on piano?
Play F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫 with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. F sits just left of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Fdim7 on ukulele?
1-2-1-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Fdim7 in?
Fdim7 sits outside the seven chords of every major and natural minor key, so expect it as a color or passing chord.
What's the difference between Fdim7 and Fdim?
Fdim7 is Fdim plus E𝄫.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.