Fdim7 chord on ukulele

Fdim7 is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. The usual shape is 1-2-1-2. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

1-2-1-2 · movable · medium

Notes: F · A♭ · C♭ · E𝄫
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭♭7
First shape: 1-2-1-2

How to play Fdim7 on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-2-1-2, reading from the G string on the left:

Put your index finger on the G string at the 1st fret, which is A♭.
Put your middle finger on the E string at the 1st fret, which is F.
Put your ring finger on the C string at the 2nd fret, which is E𝄫.
Put your pinky finger on the A string at the 2nd fret, which is C♭.

Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.
Strum with the pad of your index finger or thumb, all four strings, across the spot where the neck meets the body.

Other ways to play Fdim7

4-5-4-5: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. Use it when the next chord sits nearby on the neck.
7-8-7-8: movable shape at the 7th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.
10-11-10-11: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Moving between Fdim7 and its neighbours

Songs rarely hold Fdim7 for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

F♯ (leads up a half step): Fdim7 (1-2-1-2) to F♯ (3-1-2-1): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. F♯ on ukulele
F♯m (leads up a half step): Fdim7 (1-2-1-2) to F♯m (2-1-2-0): the index finger slides across to the C string at the same fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. F♯m on ukulele
B♭ (a fifth down): Fdim7 (1-2-1-2) to B♭ (3-2-1-1): your ring finger stays put, the index finger goes to the E string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, move the pinky finger to the G string, 3rd fret. F and E𝄫 carry over from one chord to the other. B♭ on ukulele

Fdim7 is a diminished seventh: three minor thirds stacked, so the chord divides the octave into four equal parts. All 4 notes of Fdim7 fit on the ukulele's four strings. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting Fdim7 under your fingers

Before strumming, play 1-2-1-2 note by note: A♭ then E𝄫 then F then C♭. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Next, alternate 1-2-1-2 and 4-5-4-5, slowly, until the change takes less than a beat.

Keys and progressions with Fdim7

Fdim7 on guitar and piano

Fdim7 on guitar and piano uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

Other diminished seventh chords

Fdim7 on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Fdim7 on ukulele?

F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. In the 1-2-1-2 shape the strings play A♭ (G string), E𝄫 (C string), F (E string) and C♭ (A string).

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

In standard tuning Fdim7 can't use open strings. Begin with 1-2-1-2. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is Fdim7 a barre chord on ukulele?

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

Which string does Fdim7 start on?

In the 1-2-1-2 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is A♭, the minor third.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside Fdim7. Updated September 2026.