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Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)

F sharp diminished chord (F♯dim) — guitar chord chart

F♯dim is a diminished chord built on F♯. Its notes are F♯, A, C. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord. It’s also written G♭dim.

F♯dim chord charts

F♯dim — E shape · fret 2××231EADGBe
E shape · fret 2
F♯dim — A shape · fret 99××1243EADGBe
A shape · fret 9

Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.

How to play F♯dim

  1. Lay your index finger flat across fret 2, from the 6th string to the 3rd string (the barre).
  2. Middle (2) on the 5th string, fret 3 (C).
  3. Ring (3) on the 4th string, fret 4 (F♯).
  4. Strum from the 6th string down; don’t play strings 2, 1.
  5. Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.

No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 2 and play the open Edim shape — it sounds as F♯dim. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.

Notes in F♯dim

DegreeNoteInterval
1F♯root
♭3Aminor 3rd
♭5Cdiminished 5th

Progressions with F♯dim

vii°–I in G

F♯dim is the leading-tone chord of G.

Passing chord

Slide up a half step at a time between two chords.

Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.

FAQ

What notes are in the F♯dim chord?
F♯dim (F sharp diminished) has 3 notes: F♯, A, C.
Is F♯dim hard to play?
It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 2 you can use the open Edim shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
What’s the difference between F♯dim and F♯?
F♯ is F♯ A♯ C♯. Two stacked minor 3rds make the diminished triad tense and unstable; it usually passes quickly to the next chord.
Is F♯dim the same as G♭dim?
Yes — they sound the same (enharmonic equivalents). Which name is used depends on the key of the song; the fingerings are identical.