Triads

F♯ diminished chord

Tense and unstable — it usually wants to resolve up by a half step.

F♯dim is the vii° chord in G major. In minor keys: ii° in E minor.

Spell as G♭dim

How to play F♯dim

20x212 · Open position

Right hand: F♯ (1), A (3), C (5)

2020 · Open position

On guitar, F♯dim has an open-position shape, 20x212, using four fingers alongside the open strings. Don’t strum the D string.

On piano, F♯dim has one black key (F♯) and two white keys.

On ukulele the usual F♯dim shape is 2020, using two fingers.

Move a single note and F♯dim becomes a different chord: raise C to C♯ for F♯m, add E for F♯m7♭5 and add E♭ for F♯dim7.