Which notes are in the F#dim chord?

F#dim contains the notes F#, A and C. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – ♭3 – ♭5.

How many ways can you play F#dim?

Minory lists a single guitar fingering for F#dim.

Is the F#dim chord hard to play?

F#dim requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.

Are F#dim and Gbdim the same chord?

Yes. F#dim and Gbdim are enharmonically identical — the spelling differs but the frets and keys are the same. Which name is used depends on the key of the piece.

F# diminished · Guitar

F#dim Chord on Guitar

The F#dim chord (F# diminished) is built from the notes F#, A and C. The guitar fingering for it is shown below. The same chord is also written Gbdim; both spellings sound identical.

Chord diagrams

F#dimstarts at fret 1

Fingering

string 6 (E): fret 2 — middle finger
string 5 (A): muted
string 4 (D): muted
string 3 (G): fret 2 — ring finger
string 2 (B): fret 1 — index finger
string 1 (E): fret 2 — little finger

Notes in this chord

F♯
A
C

Degrees: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5

Also written: Gbdim

How to play

F#dim can be played with open strings on guitar, which makes it an accessible shape for beginners. Strings marked ○ ring open, while strings marked ✕ are muted.

Theory behind the chord

Diminished triads stack two minor thirds, so both the third and the fifth are lowered. The result is unstable and restless, and it usually appears as a passing chord between two stable ones. On F#dim this structure sits on the root F#, so the degrees 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 map onto F#, A and C.

Frequently asked questions

Which notes are in the F#dim chord?: F#dim contains the notes F#, A and C. Relative to the root these are the degrees 1 – ♭3 – ♭5.
How many ways can you play F#dim?: Minory lists a single guitar fingering for F#dim.
Is the F#dim chord hard to play?: F#dim requires a barre, so it can feel demanding at first. Keeping the index finger straight and pressing from the wrist rather than the thumb makes it noticeably easier.
Are F#dim and Gbdim the same chord?: Yes. F#dim and Gbdim are enharmonically identical — the spelling differs but the frets and keys are the same. Which name is used depends on the key of the piece.

Practise F#dim on your phone

Minory bundles the full chord library with a tuner, metronome and repertoire notebook — and it all works offline.