F♯ diminished chord on piano (F♯dim)
F♯dim is F♯, A and C. You'll find F♯ on the first black key of the group of three. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.
root position · F♯–A–C · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- F♯ · A · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
How to play F♯dim on piano
Count keys (black and white) from F♯: 3 half steps up to A then 3 half steps up to C. Those 3 keys are F♯dim.
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 3 on A and 5 on C.
- Left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A and 1 on C.
- On the keyboard it's black, white and white keys, the same pattern as C♯dim and G♯dim, so your hand shape carries over.
F♯dim inversions
- root position: F♯–A–C. RH 1-3-5.
- 1st inversion: A–C–F♯ (A in the bass). Fingers 1-2-5.
- 2nd inversion: C–F♯–A, C lowest. Fingers 1-3-5.
Inversions keep the same notes and change which one is lowest. Moving between chords, pick the inversion that keeps your hand closest to where it already is.
F♯dim chord changes
The chords F♯dim usually goes to, and what changes under your fingers.
- G (leads up a half step): F♯dim to G: play G in root position (G–B–D), while F♯ moves up to G, A up to B and C up to D. G on piano
- Gm (leads up a half step): F♯dim to Gm: play Gm in root position (G–B♭–D), while F♯ moves up to G, A up to B♭ and C up to D. Gm on piano
- Bm (iii in G major): F♯dim to Bm: play Bm in 2nd inversion (F♯–B–D) and F♯ stays under the same finger, while A moves up to B and C up to D. Bm on piano
F♯dim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. F♯dim rarely stays long; it's a passing chord that usually climbs a half step to the next chord. The one-by-one button above makes that quality easy to hear.
A short F♯dim drill
Start with a broken chord, F♯ A C A F♯, then play it solid. Then climb the inversions: F♯–A–C, then A–C–F♯, then C–F♯–A.
The keys of F♯dim
F♯dim is a diminished chord, 1–♭3–♭5 from F♯. Root position, from the bottom: how F♯dim is built.
| Note | Key | Fingers | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| F♯ | black key | RH 1 · LH 5 | root |
| A | white key | RH 3 · LH 3 | minor third |
| C | white key | RH 5 · LH 1 | diminished fifth |
G♭dim is another spelling of F♯dim. Same keys, same sound.
Where F♯dim shows up
F♯dim on guitar and ukulele
Switching instruments? Try F♯dim on ukulele or F♯dim on guitar, or compare them on the F♯dim chord page.
Related F♯ chords on piano
Other diminished chords
F♯dim on piano: questions
What notes are in F♯dim on piano?
F♯, A and C: F♯ (black key), A (white key) and C (white key). Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1.
How do you play F♯dim on piano?
Press F♯, A and C together (1 black, 2 white). Right hand: 1 on F♯, 3 on A and 5 on C.
What are the inversions of F♯dim?
1st inversion (A–C–F♯) and 2nd inversion (C–F♯–A), after root position (F♯–A–C). Same notes, a different one at the bottom.
What does F♯dim look like on the keyboard?
black, white and white keys, the same pattern as C♯dim and G♯dim, so one hand shape covers all of them.
Shapes and sound are generated from the notes F♯, A and C and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.