Piano chords · Diminished chord
Fdim piano chord (F diminished)
Fdim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
F – A♭ – C♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Fdim
Fdim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- F, the root
- A♭, the minor third
- C♭, the diminished fifth
A♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching. C♭ is played on the key B; it's written C♭ so that every letter is used once.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on F, 3 on A♭, 5 on C♭.
- Left hand: 5 on F, 3 on A♭, 1 on C♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | F – A♭ – C♭ |
| 1st inversion | A♭ – C♭ – F |
| 2nd inversion | C♭ – F – A♭ |
Where Fdim belongs
Fdim is the vii° chord in G♭ major, the chord that leads up a half step to G♭.
Fdim is Fm with the fifth lowered a half step (C becomes C♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
G♭ – C♭ – Fdim – G♭: I – IV – vii° – I in G♭ major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Fdim chord?
Fdim (F diminished) is made of F, A♭ and C♭: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play Fdim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F, 3 on A♭, 5 on C♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F, 3 on A♭, 1 on C♭.
How is Fdim different from the plain chord?
Fdim is Fm with the fifth lowered a half step (C becomes C♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.