F#dim7 Chord (F# diminished 7th) on Guitar
F#dim7 (F# diminished 7th) is made of the notes F# – A – C – Eb. The easiest guitar fingering is 20121x (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
Higher position
How to play F#dim7
- Press the 6th string (low E) at fret 2 (F#).
- Play the 5th string (A) open (A).
- Press the 4th string (D) at fret 1 (Eb).
- Press the 3rd string (G) at fret 2 (A).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 1 (C).
- Do not play the 1st string (high e).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 2 | F# | R |
| 5th string (A) | 0 (open) | A | b3 |
| 4th string (D) | 1 | Eb | bb7 |
| 3rd string (G) | 2 | A | b3 |
| 2nd string (B) | 1 | C | b5 |
| 1st string (high e) | x (mute) | - |
What is a F# diminished 7th chord?
A diminished 7th chord stacks three minor thirds, so every note is the same distance apart. It adds a doubly-flatted seventh to a diminished triad.
Notes and formula. F#dim7 contains F#, A, C, Eb. Counted from the root F#, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), b5 (diminished 5th), bb7 (diminished 7th). It is also written Gbdim7; the two names sound identical and the name used depends on the key of the song.
Sound. Dramatic and unresolved, like a cliffhanger.
Where it is used. Used for dramatic passing chords in jazz, gospel, classical and ragtime.
Tips for playing F#dim7
The shape is perfectly symmetrical: the same fingering repeats every three frets, which makes it easy to slide up and down the neck.
Common mistake: Naming it after the wrong root. Any of its four notes can be the root, so the context decides the name.
Related chords
F#dim7 chord FAQ
What notes are in a F#dim7 chord?
F#dim7 (F# diminished 7th) contains the notes F#, A, C, Eb. The formula is R–b3–b5–bb7 relative to the root F#.
How do you play F#dim7 on guitar?
The most common shape for F#dim7 is 20121x, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is F#dim7 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated intermediate. It uses a barre, so it is more demanding than an open chord. Expect it to take some practice to sound clean.
Is F#dim7 the same as Gbdim7?
Yes. F# and Gb are enharmonic: they are the same pitch with different names, so F#dim7 and Gbdim7 sound identical on guitar. The name used depends on the key of the song.
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