F diminished chord on guitar (Fdim)

Fdim is F, A♭ and C♭. The easiest shape is x-x-3-1-0-1. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

x-x-3-1-0-1 · open · easy

Notes: F · A♭ · C♭
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
First shape: x-x-3-1-0-1

How to play Fdim on guitar

Shape 1, x-x-3-1-0-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

A♭: index finger, 1st fret of the G string.
F: middle finger, 1st fret of the high E string.
F: ring finger, 3rd fret of the D string.
Leave the B string open: C♭.
Strum from the D string down; the low E and A strings stay silent.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
With four strings sounding, a shorter strum works best: start on the first played string and stop at the high E.

Other ways to play Fdim

x-8-9-10-9-x: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. Root on the 5th string, so it pairs well with the 6th-string shape a few frets away.
x-x-15-13-12-13: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. Only the thinner strings sound, which cuts through a band without getting muddy.

Moving between Fdim and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold Fdim for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

F♯ (leads up a half step): Fdim (x-x-3-1-0-1) 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, your ring finger lands on the A string, 4th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 4th fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. F♯ on guitar
F♯m (leads up a half step): Fdim (x-x-3-1-0-1) 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, the ring finger goes 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. F♯m on guitar
B♭m (iii in F♯ major): Fdim (x-x-3-1-0-1) to B♭m (x-1-3-3-2-1): your ring finger stays put, the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, move the middle finger to the B string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 3rd fret. Listen for F, which stays put while the rest moves. B♭m on guitar

Fdim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. Fdim rarely stays long; it's a passing chord that usually climbs a half step to the next chord. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Practice Fdim in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: F, A♭, C♭, F. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Finish by moving between x-x-3-1-0-1 and x-8-9-10-9-x to learn two positions of the same chord.

Fdim in context

Fdim on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try Fdim on ukulele or Fdim on piano, or compare them on the Fdim chord page.

Next to try on guitar

Other diminished chords

Fdim on guitar: questions

What notes are in Fdim on guitar?

F, A♭ and C♭. In the x-x-3-1-0-1 shape the strings play F (D string), A♭ (G string), C♭ (B string, open) and F (high E string), so F is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Fdim on guitar?

x-x-3-1-0-1, the shape at the top of this page. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is Fdim a barre chord on guitar?

Not the usual shape: x-x-3-1-0-1 needs no barre.

Which string does Fdim start on?

In the x-x-3-1-0-1 shape the lowest string you play is the D string at the 3rd fret, which is F, the root. Skip the low E and A strings.

Every shape above plays only F, A♭ and C♭, checked by the site's tests. Updated September 2026.