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E diminished 7th chord on bass (Edim7)
Also called or written Edim7 or E°7
E diminished 7th contains E, G, B♭, and D♭. The 11th fret position requires a wide finger stretch across all four strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7
- Root positionE–G–B♭–D♭Edim712-13-11-12
- First inversionG–B♭–D♭–EEdim7/G3-4-2-3
- Second inversionB♭–D♭–E–GEdim7/B♭6-7-5-6
- Third inversionD♭–E–G–B♭Edim7/D♭9-10-8-9
How do you play an E diminished 7th chord on bass?
E diminished 7th is played at the 11th fret as 12 13 11 12: middle finger on the E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the A string at fret 13, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 4 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | D♭ (6) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 13th fret on the A string while the index holds the 11th fret on the D string, creating a wide span.
Edim7/G inversion
E diminished 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 3 4 2 3: middle finger on the E string at fret 3, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, index finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the G string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (♭3) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (6) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 1 | E (1) |
| 1 (G) | 3 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
Edim7/B♭ inversion
E diminished 7th is played at the 5th fret as 6 7 5 6: middle finger on the E string at fret 6, pinky finger on the A string at fret 7, index finger on the D string at fret 5 and ring finger on the G string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (1) |
| 2 (D) | 5 | 1 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 6 | 3 | D♭ (6) |
Edim7/D♭ inversion
E diminished 7th is played at the 8th fret as 9 10 8 9: middle finger on the E string at fret 9, pinky finger on the A string at fret 10, index finger on the D string at fret 8 and ring finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | D♭ (6) |
| 3 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 8 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 3 | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E diminished 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. The diminished 5th between E and B♭ creates its unstable quality. Contrast it with E minor 7th flat 5th, which has a ♭7 instead of ♭♭7.
What goes wrong with E diminished 7th?
- Letting the pinky collapse and mute the 3rd string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 1st string and dull its sound.
When to use it
E diminished 7th works as a passing chord in F major or F minor, often resolving to F. Use it in jazz, blues, and classical bass lines. It pairs with E minor 7th flat 5th in half-diminished contexts.
Changing to and from E diminished 7th
- Slide the shape down two frets to the 9th fret to reach D diminished 7th.
- Slide the shape down one fret to the 10th fret to reach E♭ diminished 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 11th fret position keeps E as the lowest note on the E string, giving a solid foundation. The Edim7/G inversion at the 2nd fret places G in the bass for a lighter, more open sound.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E diminished 7th written?
E diminished 7th is written as E°7 or Edim7.
What is the difference between E diminished 7th and E minor 7th flat 5th?
E diminished 7th has a ♭♭7 (D♭), while E minor 7th flat 5th has a ♭7 (D). The diminished 7th is more dissonant and symmetrical.
Can E diminished 7th be played with open strings?
No, E diminished 7th has no open strings in any of its standard positions. The lowest position starts at the 2nd fret for the G inversion.