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E diminished chord on guitar (Edim)
Also called or written Edim or E°
E diminished is built from E, G, and B♭. The open shape uses two open strings and mutes the B and high E strings.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
- Root positionE–G–B♭Edim0-1-2-0-×-×
- First inversionG–B♭–EEdim/G3-1-2-0-×-×
- Second inversionB♭–E–GEdim/B♭×-1-2-0-×-×
How do you play an E diminished chord on guitar?
E diminished is played in open position as 0 1 2 0 × ×: index finger on the A string at fret 1 and middle finger on the D string at fret 2. The low E and G strings ring open. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
BeginnerThe open shape is beginner-friendly, but muting the B and high E strings while letting the low E ring requires careful right-hand control.
7th fret
E diminished is played at the 7th fret as × 7 8 9 8 ×: index finger on the A string at fret 7, middle finger on the D string at fret 8, pinky finger on the G string at fret 9 and ring finger on the B string at fret 8. The low E and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 7 | 1 | E (1) |
| 4 (D) | 8 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (1) |
| 2 (B) | 8 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
12th fret
E diminished is played at the 12th fret as 12 13 14 12 × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 12, ring finger on the A string at fret 13, pinky finger on the D string at fret 14 and middle finger on the G string at fret 12. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 12 | 1 | E (1) |
| 5 (A) | 13 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 14 | 4 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Edim/G inversion · G on top
E diminished is played in open position as 3 1 2 0 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 1 and middle finger on the D string at fret 2. The G string rings open. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Edim/G inversion · B♭ on top
E diminished is played at the 1st fret as 3 1 2 3 × ×: ring finger on the low E string at fret 3, index finger on the A string at fret 1, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 3. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 4 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (1) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
E diminished uses the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, producing E, G, and B♭. The flattened fifth gives the chord its tense, unstable quality. Contrast it with E minor, which has a perfect fifth.
What goes wrong with E diminished?
- Letting the B string ring out, adding a B that is not part of E diminished.
- Letting the high E string ring out, adding an E that is not part of E diminished.
- Flattening the index finger on the A string, causing the 1st fret note to buzz.
When to use it
E diminished functions as the vii° chord in F major, leading to F major. It also works as a passing chord between E minor and F major. Use it in rock or blues for a tense, dark color.
Changing to and from E diminished
- Move to E minor by lifting the middle finger from the D string's 2nd fret and playing the 2nd fret on the B string instead.
Which voicing to use
The open shape is the easiest and keeps the root E in the bass. The 7th fret and 12th fret shapes repeat the voicing higher. The Edim/G inversions place G in the bass, creating a more ambiguous sound.
Other E chords
Common questions
What is the difference between E diminished and E minor?
E diminished has a flattened fifth (B♭), while E minor has a perfect fifth (B). The diminished fifth creates a more dissonant, tense sound.
Can I play E diminished as a barre chord?
The open shape uses no barre, but the 7th fret shape is movable. Slide the 7th fret shape down one fret to get E♭ diminished.
Why are the B and high E strings muted in the open shape?
The open B string is not a chord tone of E diminished, and the high E string is muted to preserve the intended voicing. Muting them keeps the sound clean.
How is E diminished written?
E diminished is written as E° or Edim. The root is E, and the symbols are E° and Edim.