The F diminished chord (Fdim) contains F, A♭ and C♭. Use the keyboard diagram to find the notes, hear the chord and compare root position with two inversions.
F diminished is a diminished triad built from F, A♭ and C♭. Compared with F minor, the fifth moves from C to C♭.
Preserve the written spelling C♭ even when it shares a piano key with a simpler enharmonic name.
Choose a position to keep the written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
Fdim uses 1–♭3–♭5: F–A♭–C♭.
Compared with F minor, lower the fifth by one semitone.
The chord tones stay the same while the lowest chord tone changes.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | Fdim | F4–A♭4–C♭5 | F4 |
| First inversion | Fdim/A♭ | A♭4–C♭5–F5 | A♭4 |
| Second inversion | Fdim/C♭ | C♭5–F5–A♭5 | C♭5 |
Fingerings are not included on this page. The diagram shows note positions, not a prescribed hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: diminished triad formula and written tone spelling
Scope: Supports the chord formula and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
F diminished contains F, A♭ and C♭.
1–♭3–♭5.
C♭ is the diminished fifth above F and keeps the chord spelled in thirds. On a piano, C♭ shares a key with B.
Select the three pitch classes that make Fdim, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks pitch classes. Order and octave do not affect the result; fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: F–A♭–C♭ · Formula: 1, ♭3, ♭5
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.