F diminished seventh (Fdim7) chord on mandolin

Diminished seventh chord (three stacked minor thirds) on F: the notes of the Fdim7 chord are F – A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 3medium

Position 6medium

Position 9medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the Fdim7 chord sounds like

A diminished seventh is three stacked minor thirds, so it is symmetrical: four different roots give the same notes. A dramatic, tense passing chord.

Notes of the Fdim7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F	root
3	A♭	minor third (3 semitones)
5	C♭	diminished fifth (6 semitones)
7	E𝄫	diminished seventh (9 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 1, middle finger (F5)
String 2 (A): fret 2, ring finger (C♭5)
String 3 (D): open (E𝄫4)
String 4 (G): fret 1, index finger (A♭3)

Position 3

String 1 (E): fret 4, ring finger (A♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 5, little finger (E𝄫5)
String 3 (D): fret 3, index finger (F4)
String 4 (G): fret 4, middle finger (C♭4)

Position 6

String 1 (E): fret 7, ring finger (C♭6)
String 2 (A): fret 8, little finger (F5)
String 3 (D): fret 6, index finger (A♭4)
String 4 (G): fret 7, middle finger (E𝄫4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Similar chords and substitutes

If Fdim7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C♯7 – an incomplete dominant: the diminished chord is the top of this seventh chord
F♯ – where it leads (leading tone → root)

Same notes

Ddim7 – the same notes with a different root
A♭dim7 – the same notes with a different root
Bdim7 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Fdim – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Fdim7 chord?

F, A♭, C♭, E𝄫. The root is F; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth, diminished seventh.

What is the easiest way to play Fdim7 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, rated easy. We show 4 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the Fdim7 chord written?

The chord symbol is Fdim7, and its full name is F diminished seventh.