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F diminished chord

F diminished Diminished & augmented family

Tense and uneasy, like a question.

Easiest shape1 of 5

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 5th, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

Froot
A♭minor 3rd
C♭flat 5th

The flat 5th is the most unstable interval there is. It cannot stay put.

Tension: Restless

Hear it in a progression

Leading home
Tension that resolves up one fret. In F♯ major.
Capo and transpose

Where it goes next

Thinking in F♯ major, where it is the vii° chord.

F♯
I. Its top note leads up one fret, straight home.
A♯m
iii. Settles onto iii.

Sounds close

C♯7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have F, A♭ and C♭.
Ddim7
Shares 3 of its notes. Both have F, A♭ and C♭.
C♯
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F and A♭.
E
Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A♭ and C♭.

Keys it lives in