Piano chords · Diminished chord
F♯dim piano chord (F♯ diminished)
F♯dim (also written G♭dim) 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 F♯dim
F♯dim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- F♯, the root
- A, the minor third
- C, the diminished fifth
F♯ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
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 F♯dim belongs
F♯dim is the vii° chord in G major, the chord that leads up a half step to G.
F♯dim is F♯m 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 – F♯dim – 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 F♯dim chord?
F♯dim (F♯ diminished) is made of F♯, A and C: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play F♯dim 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 F♯dim different from the plain chord?
F♯dim is F♯m with the fifth lowered a half step (C♯ becomes C). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.