CifraLab

Fdim Guitar Chord

Fdim guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
FdimGuitar fingering diagram for Fdim12341241××STRING6ªF5ªB4ªF3ªG#2ª×1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets Fdim apart

Play Fdim one string at a time and you hear F, Ab and Cb. F is the root, Ab the minor third and Cb the flat fifth. Said aloud, its notes are F, A flat and C flat.

String by string, low to high, it plays F, Cb, F and Ab. F rings twice across the four strings, and it is the root. It runs from F on string 6 up to Ab on string 3.

Fdim uses no barre and no open strings, so you can slide the shape up the neck without changing fingers. Strings 2 and 1 stay silent. Your hand covers three frets, from 1 to 3. There is one more position, starting at fret 8.

Fdim and Db have F and Ab in common. F shares two positions with this shape.

Fdim belongs to two keys. In F# major it is the vii° and in D# minor the ii°.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704A A - F#m - Bm - E7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Fdim)

Formula: Diminished Triad (1 - ♭3 - ♭5)
Constituent chord intervals:

F 1Ab ♭3Cb ♭5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 1 (F)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Fdim:

01

Triad

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 1Finger 1
FDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 2Finger 2
B
4th String (D)
Fret 3Finger 4
FDegree 1
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 1
AbDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
×Muted
Do not play
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Index finger. Don't play: 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 8

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 8Finger 1
FDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 9Finger 2
B
3rd String (G)
Fret 10Finger 4
FDegree 1
2nd String (B)
Fret 9Finger 3
AbDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 8 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Middle finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 10 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 9 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Fdim)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 3
Fretting fingers3
Opennone
Muted2nd and 1st

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Fdim

Listen: Fdim → F · Bb · C

  1. Fdim
  2. F
  3. Fdim
  4. Bb
  5. Fdim
  6. C
Fdim → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 4, fret 3
Move
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
  • string 2, fret 1
  • string 1, fret 1
Fdim → Bb02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 4, fret 3
Move
  • string 5, fret 1
  • string 3, fret 3
  • string 2, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 1
Fdim → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Fdim in every key

Fdim sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
3

Major keys

Minor keys

Fdim on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Fdim)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Fdim chord?

To play the Fdim chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 6 to string 3. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Fdim chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Fdim chord is its root note: F. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 1.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Fdim chord and what is its formula?

The Fdim chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 formula (Diminished Triad). Its constituent pitches are F, Ab, Cb.

How do you prevent the Fdim chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Fdim chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Fdim chord diagram

Fdim guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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