Guitar arpeggio

F# Diminished 7 Guitar Arpeggio

F# Diminished 7 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from F#, A, C, and Eb. It is also commonly called F# Fully Diminished 7. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.

Chord tones
F#, A, C, Eb
Formula
1 b3 b5 bb7
Semitones
0 3 6 9
Chord symbols
F#dim7
Also called
F# Fully Diminished 7

How to read this arpeggio

The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent F# root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.

Use the interactive fretboard to locate the F# root notes and connect the remaining diminished 7 chord tones across standard tuning.

This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called F# Fully Diminished 7.

Chord construction and defining tones

b3A
b5C
bb7Eb

F# diminished 7 combines b3 (A), b5 (C), and bb7 (Eb). Four notes spaced in minor thirds make the arpeggio symmetrical and give each note the potential to sound like a root.

Harmonic use

Use this arpeggio over F#dim7, as a leading-tone diminished chord, or as a passing structure between nearby chord shapes.

Practice this arpeggio on guitar

  1. Play the F# Diminished 7 arpeggio from one F# root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
  2. Sequence b3 (A), b5 (C), and bb7 (Eb) in minor-third cycles and repeat the same idea three frets higher.
  3. Play a F# diminished 7 line and resolve its notes outward or inward by semitone to a nearby chord.

Fretboard diagram

F# Diminished 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning
F# Diminished 7 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning.

Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool

Start with F# Diminished 7 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Arpeggio diagrams by tuning