Fdim7 Guitar Chord

Fdim7 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3

Chord shapes:(3 positions)

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Fret 1

Arpeggio for this shape

P - m - i - m · Alternating Folk (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)

The 1st string is silent. The thumb plays the 6th and the fingers stay on the 3rd and 2nd. All 6 arpeggios

Alternating picking with steady pulse.

Speed:

What sets Fdim7 apart

Fdim7 is built from F, Ab, Cb and Ebb. F is the root, Ab the minor third, Cb the flat fifth and Ebb the diminished seventh. Said aloud, its notes are F, A flat, C flat and E double flat. Each note sits three semitones above the one before. Slide the same shape three frets and you get the same notes.

From the low string to the high one you hear F, Ebb, Ab and Cb. The lowest note is F on string 6 and the highest is Cb on string 2.

Fdim7 lets two strings ring open. String 4 gives Ebb and string 2 gives Cb. Strings 5 and 1 are not played. Every finger presses at fret 1. Besides the main one there are two more shapes, at frets 3 and 7.

Fm7b5 is one change away. String 4 is pressed at fret 1, bringing in Eb, the minor seventh of Fm7b5. It shares two notes with Db, F and Ab. Going to F, one position stays the same.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Recommended practice sequences

01C C - Am - Dm - G7 02G G - Em - Am - D7 03D D - Bm - Em - A7 04A A - F#m - Bm - E7

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Fdim7)

Formula: Diminished Seventh (1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7)

Constituent chord intervals:

F 1Ab ♭3Cb ♭5Ebb 𝄫7

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

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

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Fdim7:

Select each shape in the diagram above to view and listen to it

Fret 1

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)

×Muted

Do not play

4th String (D)

○Open

3rd String (G)

Fret 1Finger 2

AbDegree ♭3

2nd String (B)

○Open

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

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

Fret 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 2

FDegree 1

4th String (D)

Fret 9Finger 4

3rd String (G)

Fret 7Finger 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 Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Pinky finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 9 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Fret 3

Inversion

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

5th String (A)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

4th String (D)

Fret 3Finger 1

FDegree 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 4Finger 3

2nd String (B)

Fret 3Finger 2

1st String (High E)

Fret 4Finger 4

AbDegree ♭3

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

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Fdim7)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

Item	In this chord
Frets	fret 1
Fretting fingers	2
Open	4th and 2nd
Muted	5th and 1st

What to check

The open 4th and 2nd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

The 5th string stays muted between strings that ring.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Fdim7

Listen: Fdim7 → F · C · Am

Fdim7
F
Fdim7
C
Fdim7
Am

Fdim7 → F01

Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position

Stay in place

string 6, fret 1

Move

string 5, fret 3
string 4, fret 3
string 3, fret 2
string 2, fret 1
string 1, fret 1

Fdim7 → C02

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

Fdim7 → Am03

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 4 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 2: string 4, fret 2
finger 3: string 3, fret 2
finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Fdim7 in every key

This chord type does not belong naturally to a major or minor scale: it is used as colour or passing tension.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty: 2/5
Highest fret: 1
Frets the hand covers: 1
Barre: No
Strings that ring: 4/6
Fretting fingers: 2

Fdim7 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 (Fdim7)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Fdim7 chord?

To play the Fdim7 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 6 to string 2. 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 Fdim7 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Fdim7 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 Fdim7 chord and what is its formula?

The Fdim7 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7 formula (Diminished Seventh). Its constituent pitches are F, Ab, Cb, Ebb.

How do you prevent the Fdim7 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Fdim7 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 Fdim7 chord diagram

Fdim7 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the F family:

Chord F Chord F# Chord F#m Chord Fm Chord F7 Chord F#7 Chord Fmaj7 Chord F#maj7