akousia
Start here

E Diminished Chord

Edim stacks two minor thirds: E to G, then G to B flat. Its lowered fifth creates a tritone above the root and gives the triad a strong need to move.

  • Notes: E-G-B flat
  • Symbol: Edim
  • viidim in F major
  • Lowered fifth
Switch chordEdim

How to play an E diminished chord

Notes: E - G - Bb · symbol Edim

  • Root position

    E - G - Bb
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 1st inversion

    G - Bb - E
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-2-5 · Left 5-3-1

  • 2nd inversion

    Bb - E - G
    C4C5
    Right hand 1-3-5 · Left 5-2-1

Where does E diminished belong?

In F major, this diminished triad can act as a leading-tone chord that approaches the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.

  • In F majorLeading-tone chord
    vii°

    E is the leading tone of F, so the chord leans hard toward it.

    FIBbIVEdimvii°FI
  • In D minorThe ii° in minor
    ii°

    The minor-key version of ii-V-i, heading to Dm.

    Edimii°AVDmi
  • In F minorMinor-key pull
    vii°

    From harmonic minor: the same chord pulls just as hard toward Fm.

    FmiBbmivEdimvii°Fmi

Progressions to try

  • FBbEdimF

    Edim is a leading-tone triad that resolves by step into the final major tonic.

  • EdimADm

    In D minor, Edim serves as ii diminished before the dominant and minor tonic.

  • FmBbmEdimFm

    The leading-tone sound also works before a minor tonic; check the chord's spelling in this key.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with the open 0120xx grip. Let the open strings ring and keep any strings marked x silent.

On ukulele, the open shape 0401 is the easiest place to start. The 9767 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play E-G-B flat. Move E up an octave to reach the first inversion, G-B flat-E; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

E is the root, G the minor third and B flat the diminished fifth, six semitones above the root.

  • Root position: E-G-B flat, with E lowest.
  • First inversion: G-B flat-E, written Edim/G if G is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: B flat-E-G, written Edim/Bb if B flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.

A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.

How does Edim differ from Em?

Keep E and G, then raise the diminished fifth B flat to B. That makes Em. This page is about the three-note diminished triad, not a diminished seventh chord. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See Em for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • Edim

    E - G - Bb
    C4C5

    E diminished

  • Em

    E - G - B
    C4C5

    E minor

Try another chord