Edim E diminished chord
- Notes
- E G Bb
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5
- Semitones
- 0 3 6 above the root
- Other symbols
- E°, Em(b5)
E to G is a minor third (3 semitones), G to Bb is a minor third (3 semitones). Two minor thirds stacked, so E to Bb is a tritone (6 semitones) instead of a perfect fifth. The four-note Edim7 and Em7b5 grow from it by adding a note on top.
Edim on the piano
Root position from E4: E4, G4, Bb4. Middle C is C4.
Edim on the guitar
Standard tuning (E A D G B E). Strings run low E on the left to high e on the right, frets downwards; × is a muted string, ○ an open string, and each dot shows the note it sounds, with the root in blue-green. Every shape below has E as its lowest note.
0 1 2 0 x x (low E to high e)
Sounds E2 Bb2 E3 G3
x 7 8 9 8 x (low E to high e)
Sounds E3 Bb3 E4 G4
The barre shapes are movable: an E-shape chord's root is the note under your first finger on the low E string, an A-shape chord's root is the note on the A string. Slide the same grip up or down to play diminished chords on other roots.
Inversions of Edim
An inversion puts a note other than the root in the bass. The name is what semicord's chord finder calls those notes played bottom to top; a slash name like C/E means a C chord with E in the bass.
| Position | Notes, bass first | Named | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | E G Bb | Edim | |
| 1st inversion | G Bb E | Edim/G | |
| 2nd inversion | Bb E G | Edim/Bb |
Where Edim fits
Edim is vii° in F major, ii° in D minor, vii° in F minor. Its root E is the leading tone of F: a half step below the tonic, so the chord usually moves up to it.