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Fdim7 chord on guitar

Fdim7 (F diminished seventh) is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x8979x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 8th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 9th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Fdim7

F diminished seventh · F A♭ C♭ E𝄫 · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7

  • 7th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    7fr2314FC♭E𝄫A♭

    x8979x

  • 12th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    12fr2131FE𝄫A♭C♭

    13-x-12-13-12-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are F, the root.

How to play Fdim7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 7th fret

    x8979x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 9th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 6th string · 12th fret

    13-x-12-13-12-x
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 4th to 2nd strings at the 12th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 13th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 3rd string, 13th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the Fdim7 chord

Fdim7 is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫, and it sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic film-villain chord. From F, count 3 half steps up to A♭, 3 more to C♭ and 3 more to E𝄫. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with F lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Fdim7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Fdim7

F♯mxx4222Fdim7 climbs a half step into F♯m: every note leans into it.G♭xx4322The same half step up into G♭, home in the major key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on F

FFmF7Fmaj7Fm7Fsus2Fsus4Fadd9F9F6FdimFm7♭5Faug

Diminished seventh chords on other notes

Cdim7C♯dim7Ddim7D♯dim7Edim7F♯dim7Gdim7G♯dim7Adim7A♯dim7Bdim7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Fdim7 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x8979x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 5th string, 8th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 9th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 9th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the Fdim7 chord?

Fdim7 is F, A♭, C♭ and E𝄫. In the shape written x8979x, the 5th to 2nd strings play F, C♭, E𝄫 and A♭.

Is Fdim7 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play Fdim7 on guitar?

This page shows two: x8979x (7th fret) and 13-x-12-13-12-x (12th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Fdim7?

Yes. “Make a beat in F♯ minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F♯ minor on F♯m D A E, the key where Fdim7 is the vii°7 chord (written E♯dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in F♯ minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F♯ minor on F♯m D A E, the key where Fdim7 is the vii°7 chord (written E♯dim7). Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in F♯ minorAll guitar chords

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