Fdim7 chord on guitar

Fdim7 is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. The usual shape is 1-2-0-1-0-1. Tap Play, then slow it down.

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

How to play Fdim7 on guitar

Shape 1, 1-2-0-1-0-1, reading from the low E string on the left:

F: index finger, 1st fret of the low E string.
A♭: middle finger, 1st fret of the G string.
F: ring finger, 1st fret of the high E string.
C♭: pinky finger, 2nd fret of the A string.
Leave the D and B strings open: E𝄫 and C♭.

If an open string sounds dead, a fingertip is leaning on it. Come down more on the tips, with your knuckles bent.
Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.

Other ways to play Fdim7

13-x-12-13-12-x: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. Built on the Edim7 open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-8-9-7-9-x: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. This is the open Adim7 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.

Fdim7 chord changes

These are the changes you'll meet most often with Fdim7, using the first shape of each chord.

F♯ (leads up a half step): 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. F♯ on guitar
F♯m (leads up a half step): 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. F♯m on guitar
B♭ (a fifth down): 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. B♭ on guitar

Fdim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. Fdim7 can stand in for a dominant seventh a half step below, which is why it links chords so smoothly. The slow arpeggio button above makes that quality easy to hear.

Practice Fdim7 in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: F, C♭, E𝄫, A♭, C♭, F. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Next, alternate 1-2-0-1-0-1 and 13-x-12-13-12-x, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Where Fdim7 shows up

Fdim7 on piano and ukulele

The same notes on another instrument: Fdim7 on piano and Fdim7 on ukulele. This page puts all three side by side.

Related F chords on guitar

Other diminished seventh chords

Fdim7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in Fdim7 on guitar?

F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. In the 1-2-0-1-0-1 shape the strings play F (low E string), C♭ (A string), E𝄫 (D string, open), A♭ (G string), C♭ (B string, open) and F (high E string), so F and C♭ are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Fdim7 on guitar?

None of the Fdim7 shapes is a true beginner shape, but 1-2-0-1-0-1 comes closest. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is Fdim7 a barre chord on guitar?

Not in its common form: 1-2-0-1-0-1 needs no barre.

Which string does Fdim7 start on?

In the 1-2-0-1-0-1 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 1st fret, which is F, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫 and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.