A decoupling circuit for a radio frequency (RF) surface coil having a plurality of tuning capacitors includes at least two decoupling points and a DC source coupled to the at least two decoupling points. Each decoupling point is associated with one of the plurality of tuning capacitors. Each decoupling point includes a decoupling inductor connected in parallel with a tuning capacitor, a diode connected in series with the decoupling inductor and in parallel with the tuning capacitor, a resistor connected in parallel with the diode and at least one isolating inductor connected between the resistor and the diode to RF isolate the resistor. The value of the resistor in each decoupling point is selected to maintain a high quality factor (Q) of the RF surface coil and to reduce the switching speed of the decoupling circuit.