The F Diminished chord is a three-note chord made up of F, A♭, and C♭. It is built from a root, minor third, and diminished fifth.
Construction
F Diminished = Root + Minor 3rd + Diminished 5th = F · A♭ · C♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| F | Root | 1 |
| A♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| C♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
F Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | F – A♭ – C♭ |
| 1st Inversion | A♭ – C♭ – F |
| 2nd Inversion | C♭ – F – A♭ |
Key Signature
A Diminished chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn’t belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.
How F Diminished functions in a key
The same chord takes on a different harmonic role depending on the key it appears in. Here is where F Diminished sits diatonically across the common keys:
- In G♭ major, F Diminished is the vii° chord — the dominant.
- In E♭ minor, F Diminished is the ii° chord — a predominant.
F Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F Diminished chord on piano?
The F Diminished chord contains the notes F – A♭ – C♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
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.