F Diminished
Hear the F Diminished chord played for you.
F°
F – A♭ – B
Formula:R-m3-d5
Intervals:P1-m3-d5
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5
Introduction
The F Diminished chord is a three-note chord made up of F, A♭, and B. It is built from a root, minor third, and diminished fifth.
The F Diminished piano chord (Fdim) consists of the notes F, Ab, B. It is built by stacking two minor thirds (3 semitones each), giving it a tense, unstable, and dissonant character. Formula: R-m3-d5 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5.
Notes
F Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | F – A♭ – B |
| 1st Inversion | A♭ – B – F |
| 2nd Inversion | B – F – A♭ |
Key Signature
The key of F Diminished has 1 flat.
B♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of F Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — F Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5
Intervals: P1-m3-d5
The F Diminished is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5 show the distance between each note in the chord.
F Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the F Diminished chord?
The F Diminished chord contains: F (root), Ab (minor third), and Cb (diminished fifth). Both intervals are compressed: the minor third is 3 semitones above the root, and the diminished fifth is 6 semitones — a tritone.
How does F Diminished differ from F Minor?
F Minor has a perfect fifth. F Diminished lowers the fifth by one semitone to Cb (diminished fifth). That extra compression creates intense harmonic tension — the tritone between root and diminished fifth is the most dissonant interval in Western music.
What is the symbol for the F Diminished?
F Diminished is written as Fdim or F°. The ° or "dim" symbol means both the third and fifth are minor/diminished. Do not confuse with Fdim7 or Fø (half-diminished), which include additional notes.
What are the inversions of F Diminished?
First inversion (F Diminished/Ab): Ab–Cb–F. Second inversion (F Diminished/Cb): Cb–F–Ab. Diminished triads are used in classical music as the vii° chord — the chord one semitone below the tonic, with strong resolution pull.
How is F Diminished used in music?
F Diminished most commonly functions as the vii° chord in a major key, creating strong resolution back to the tonic. It also works as a chromatic passing chord between two nearby chords, and in classical music as a brief point of dissonance. Jazz uses the full four-note dim7 more often than the triad.
What songs use diminished chords?
Michelle (Beatles) uses a diminished chord as a chromatic passing chord. Many classical pieces use vii°–I cadences. Jazz standards use dim7 chords as chromatic passing and approach chords. Diminished harmony also appears in flamenco and film music for dramatic tension.
Practice Tips
- Compare F Minor and F Diminished: only the fifth changes (Cb vs perfect fifth). Play both back to back — the extra compression is striking.
- The tritone between F and Cb creates maximum tension — practice just this two-note interval to hear its characteristic sound.
- F Diminished most naturally resolves up by half step: play Fdim then a chord whose root is F raised by one semitone.
- Practice all inversions: F–Ab–Cb, Ab–Cb–F, Cb–F–Ab.
- Use F Diminished as a vii° chord: it is one semitone below F# Major — try Fdim → F# Major to feel this powerful classical resolution.
- In a major key, find where F Diminished fits naturally as a passing chord between two diatonic chords a step apart.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.