F♯ diminished 7th chord on piano
F♯dim7 is a diminished 7th chord built on F♯. It uses the notes F♯ - A - C - E♭ and sounds dramatic and suspenseful, the classic silent-movie villain chord. It is also written as G♭ diminished 7th.
- Notes
- F♯ A C E♭
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- F♯dim7
How to play F♯dim7 step by step
- Find F♯. F♯ is the first black key in each group of three. The same key is also called G♭.
- Add A, 3 half steps above F♯.
- Add C, 6 half steps above F♯.
- Add E♭, 9 half steps above F♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
F♯dim7 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F♯ diminished 7th chord?
The F♯ diminished 7th chord (F♯dim7) contains 4 notes: F♯, A, C, E♭. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - 𝄫7.
How do you play F♯dim7 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on F♯ and play F♯, A, C, E♭ together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is F♯ diminished 7th the same as G♭ diminished 7th?
Yes. F♯ diminished 7th and G♭ diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.