Root position Fdim
F – A♭ – C♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
F Diminished Chord on Piano
Fdim F A♭ C♭ Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the F Diminished chord?
The F Diminished chord has 3 notes: F, A♭, C♭. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from F) gives it its tension. Spelled by the rules of harmony, C♭ is the B key on the keyboard.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| F | Root | 0 |
| A♭ | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| C♭ (the B key) | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play F Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Fdim/A♭
A♭ – C♭ – F
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion Fdim/B
C♭ – F – A♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with F Diminished
Every key where Fdim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the F Diminished chord?
The F Diminished chord (Fdim) is made of F, A♭, C♭. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play Fdim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on F and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Fdim?
root position Fdim (F A♭ C♭); 1st inversion Fdim/A♭ (A♭ C♭ F); 2nd inversion Fdim/B (C♭ F A♭).
Play it for real
Hold Fdim and build a progression on it
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