F sharp Diminished Chord (F♯dim)

1Composition: what it contains

F♯ – A – C

Symbol

F♯dim

Also written

F♯dim, F♯°, F♯m♭5, F♯mi(♭5)

Formula

1 ♭3 ♭5

Same sound as

G♭dim

2Appearance: diagrams and sound

On the guitar

On the ukulele

On the piano

On the staff

On bass and as an arpeggio

3Indications: what it is used for

The vii° chord of a major key and the ii° chord of a minor key are diminished triads. It works as a leading-tone chord resolving to the tonic (vii°–I), as a passing chord between two diatonic chords (for example between I and ii, or IV and V), and as an incomplete dominant seventh: the vii° triad contains the 3, 5 and 7 of V7. Classical, jazz, gospel and film music use it for tension and chromatic movement in the bass.

4Dosage: how to practise it

On piano, play the triad in all inversions at 60 BPM, then practise vii°6–I resolutions with smooth voice leading (the diminished fifth contracting to a third). On guitar, learn the compact three-string shapes on the top strings and the shape rooted on the fifth string. Practise the passing progression I–♯I°–ii–V slowly, then at 80–100 BPM. Arpeggiate 1-♭3-♭5 on bass. Five minutes a day is enough once the shapes are known.

5Warnings and common mistakes

Do not confuse the triad (dim) with the diminished seventh chord (dim7 or °7) or the half-diminished seventh (m7♭5 or ø7): many charts write 'dim' when they mean the four-note dim7, so check the style. The diminished fifth is not a perfect fifth; on guitar, power-chord habits make players play the wrong fifth. In root position the triad can sound harsh; first inversion is the most common classical voicing.

6Interactions with chords, scales and keys

Inversions

• Inversion 1 · F♯dim/A · A – C – F♯ Play
• Inversion 2 · F♯dim/C · C – F♯ – A Play

Scales to play over F♯dim

• F sharp Locrian Mode
• F sharp Blues Scale
• F sharp Half-Whole Diminished Scale
• F sharp Whole-Half Diminished Scale
• F sharp Hungarian Minor Scale
• F sharp Altered Scale

Where it appears (keys and Roman numerals)

• vii° – Key of G Major
• ii° – Key of E Minor

7Other presentations available

The same chord from every note

Cdim C♯dim Ddim E♭dim Edim Fdim Gdim A♭dim Adim B♭dim Bdim

Other chords on F♯

F♯ F♯m F♯aug F♯sus2 F♯sus4 F♯5 F♯6 F♯m6 F♯7 F♯maj7 F♯m7 F♯m7♭5 F♯dim7 F♯m(maj7) F♯7sus4 F♯add9 F♯m(add9) F♯6/9 F♯9 F♯maj9 F♯m9 F♯11 F♯m11 F♯13 F♯7♭9 F♯7♯9 F♯7♯5 F♯7♭5