Learn › F Diminished Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
New Released in April 2026
F Diminished Triad Inversions on Guitar: 12 Shapes
The F diminished triad on guitar does not need six strings. Three notes, F, Ab and Cb, on three strings give you Fdim anywhere on the neck, in root position, 1st and 2nd inversion.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Twelve Fdim shapes, string set by string set
Play only the three strings shown. Inside each set the three shapes follow each other up the neck: when one ends, the next begins.
G-B-e strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
D-G-B strings
Root position
1st inversion
2nd inversion
A-D-G strings
2nd inversion
Root position
1st inversion
E-A-D strings
1st inversion
2nd inversion
Root position
Same chord, different bottom note
The notes never change, only their order. With Ab or Cb at the bottom, Fdim sounds lighter and lets the melody note on top change.
Tense and unstable: it wants to move to the next chord.
Fret chart for Fdim triads
| String set | Root position | 1st inversion | 2nd inversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-B-e strings | x x x 10 9 7 | x x x 1 0 1 | x x x 4 6 4 |
| D-G-B strings | x x 3 1 0 x | x x 6 4 6 x | x x 9 10 9 x |
| A-D-G strings | x 8 6 4 x x | x 11 9 10 x x | x 2 3 1 x x |
| E-A-D strings | 13 11 9 x x x | 4 2 3 x x x | 7 8 6 x x x |
Frets from the low E string to the high E string; x = string not played.
A short Fdim triad routine
- Start with the G-B-e strings only: three shapes, one minute each.
- Climb the neck through the three shapes and come back down without stopping.
- Pick one fret area, around fret 8, and find Fdim on every string set without moving your hand far.
- Last, switch between Fdim and another triad in the same area of the neck.
Learn one string set per week and in a month the whole neck is yours.
How to move between the shapes
On the G-B-e strings, the shapes go up the neck in this order: 1st inversion (fret 1) → 2nd inversion (fret 6) → root position (fret 10). The top notes along the way are F, Ab, Cb.
One area of the neck, near fret 8, already holds four Fdim shapes: G-B-e strings 4-6-4; D-G-B strings 6-4-6; A-D-G strings 8-6-4; E-A-D strings 7-8-6.
Test Fdim with your guitar
The game shows chord symbols, not diagrams, so you choose the shape: any inversion of Fdim counts, as long as the microphone hears the right notes.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play Fdim triads on the top strings?
On the G, B and high E strings: 1st inversion 1-0-1; 2nd inversion 4-6-4; Root position 10-9-7. Play only those three strings.
Why learn triad inversions on guitar?
They let you play Fdim in any area of the neck with three fingers, so chord changes stay close and the top note can follow a melody.
What does a Fdim triad sound like?
Tense and unstable: it wants to move to the next chord.
Can I practise Fdim with a game that listens to my guitar?
Yes. ChordRunner hears your guitar through the microphone and checks the chord in any shape or inversion. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Try the demoKeep learning
Guitar Chord Chart: 21 Essential Chords
Guitar chord chart with diagrams: the 7 major, 7 minor and 7 seventh chords guitarists use most, how to read a…
Chord Inversions Explained
Chord inversions explained simply: root position, first and second inversion, why they matter, and how to dril…
Easy Guitar Chords for Beginners
Easy guitar chords for beginners: Em, Am, C, G, D, E, A and Dm with diagrams, the order to learn them and how …
Chord Training That Feels Like a Game
Interactive chord training in your browser. Play major, minor, 7th and extended chords on a MIDI keyboard or a…
Master All 12 Major Chords on Piano
Every major chord on piano with notes and fingering, plus an interactive game that drills all 12 until they ar…
Master All 12 Minor Chords on Piano
All 12 minor chords on piano, how they differ from major, and a game that trains instant recall with your MIDI…