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E diminished major 7th chord on bass (EdimMaj7)
Also called or written EdimMaj7, EdimM7, E°M7, E augmented minor seventh or E minor seventh sharp five
E diminished major 7th contains E, G, B♭, and D♯. The open position uses two open strings and is the easiest voicing, while the 12th-fret shape is movable.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7
- Root positionE–G–B♭–D♯EdimMaj70-1-1-0
- First inversionG–B♭–D♯–EEdimMaj7/Gno shape on this instrument
- Second inversionB♭–D♯–E–GEdimMaj7/B♭no shape on this instrument
- Third inversionD♯–E–G–B♭EdimMaj7/D♯no shape on this instrument
How do you play an E diminished major 7th chord on bass?
E diminished major 7th is played in open position as 0 1 1 0: index finger on the A string at fret 1 and middle finger on the D string at fret 1. The E and G strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 1 | 2 | D♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
AdvancedE diminished major 7th in open position requires clean fretting of the 3rd and 2nd strings while the open strings ring clearly.
12th fret
E diminished major 7th is played at the 12th fret as 12 13 13 12: index finger on the E string at fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 13, pinky finger on the D string at fret 13 and middle finger on the G string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (A) | 13 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (D) | 13 | 4 | D♯ (7) |
| 1 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
E diminished major 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, 7. The diminished 5th between E and B♭ creates a tritone that gives the chord its dark color. The major 7th D♯ is a leading tone that resolves upward to E. Compare with E minor 7th flat 5th, which has D instead of D♯.
What goes wrong with E diminished major 7th?
- Letting the index finger touch the 4th string, which deadens the open E.
- Pressing the middle finger too hard, causing the 2nd string to buzz.
- Allowing the index finger to drift sharp, making the 3rd string note out of tune.
When to use it
E diminished major 7th works as a passing chord in E minor, often between E minor and E minor 7th. Its tense sound suits jazz ballads and dramatic film cues. Use it to add chromatic motion on the bass.
Changing to and from E diminished major 7th
- Sliding the 12th-fret shape down two frets to the 10th fret gives D diminished major 7th.
- Sliding the 12th-fret shape down one fret to the 11th fret gives E♭ diminished major 7th.
Which voicing to use
The open position places the root E on the 4th string and is the easiest to play. The 12th-fret shape is the same voicing an octave higher and is movable.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E diminished major 7th written?
E diminished major 7th is written E°M7 or EdimM7. The root is E.
What is the difference between E diminished major 7th and E minor 7th flat 5th?
E diminished major 7th has a major 7th (D♯), while E minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th (D). The major 7th creates a leading tone that pulls strongly to the octave.
Can E diminished major 7th be played in a higher register?
Yes, the 12th-fret position is the same voicing an octave higher. It is movable, so sliding it changes the root.