F♯ diminished chord (F♯dim)
F♯dim is F♯, A and C: 1–♭3–♭5 built on F♯. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
x-x-4-2-1-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- x-x-4-2-1-2
F♯dim on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · F♯–A–C · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
F♯dim on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-0-2-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
- First shape
- 2-0-2-0
Where F♯dim usually goes next
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- F♯dim → G (leads up a half step)
Guitar: F♯dim (x-x-4-2-1-2) to G (3-2-0-0-0-3): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the middle finger goes to the low E string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the high E string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: F♯dim to G: play G in root position (G–B–D), while F♯ moves up to G, A up to B and C up to D. G - F♯dim → Gm (leads up a half step)
Guitar: F♯dim (x-x-4-2-1-2) to Gm (3-5-5-3-3-3): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 3rd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the D string, 5th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once.
Piano: F♯dim to Gm: play Gm in root position (G–B♭–D), while F♯ moves up to G, A up to B♭ and C up to D. Gm - F♯dim → Bm (iii in G major)
Guitar: F♯dim (x-x-4-2-1-2) to Bm (x-2-4-4-3-2): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 2nd fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 3rd fret, your ring finger lands on the D string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Shared note: F♯.
Piano: F♯dim to Bm: play Bm in 2nd inversion (F♯–B–D) and F♯ stays under the same finger, while A moves up to B and C up to D. Bm
How F♯dim is built
F♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. It sounds tense and unstable and rarely stays long. Its most common job is to lead up a half step, so F♯dim usually moves to G or Gm.
From F♯, go 3 half steps up to A then 3 half steps up to C. You may also see it as G♭dim: same keys, same frets.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| F♯ | root | 0 | |
| A | minor third | 3 | |
| C | diminished fifth | 6 |
Keys and progressions with F♯dim
F♯dim belongs to 2 keys: vii° in G major and ii° in E minor.
Chords close to F♯dim
- F♯dim and F♯m differ by one note: C in F♯dim, C♯ in F♯m. They share F♯ and A. F♯m
Chords that share most of their notes with F♯dim: Cdim7, D7, D♯dim7, F♯dim7, F♯m7♭5, Am6.
Every F♯ chord
F♯ diminished chord: questions
What notes are in the F♯ diminished chord?
F♯, A and C. F♯dim is built 1–♭3–♭5 from F♯: A is the minor third and C is the diminished fifth.
How do you play F♯dim on guitar?
The usual shape is x-x-4-2-1-2 (movable). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play F♯dim on piano?
Play F♯, A and C with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. F♯ sits on the first black key of the group of three. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play F♯dim on ukulele?
2-0-2-0 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is F♯dim in?
F♯dim belongs to 2 keys: vii° in G major and ii° in E minor.
What's the difference between F♯dim and F♯m?
F♯dim and F♯m differ by one note: C in F♯dim, C♯ in F♯m. They share F♯ and A.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes F♯, A and C and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.