Explore chords · Ukulele
E diminished 7th chord on ukulele (Edim7)
Also called or written Edim7 or E°7
E diminished 7th is built from E, G, B♭, D♭. The 9th fret shape is a compact four-finger cluster that moves cleanly up and down the neck.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7
How do you play an E diminished 7th chord on ukulele?
E diminished 7th is played at the 9th fret as 9 10 9 10: index finger on the G string at fret 9, ring finger on the C string at fret 10, middle finger on the E string at fret 9 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 2 | D♭ (6) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach fret 10 on the A string while the ring finger holds fret 10 on the C string, requiring a wide stretch.
Edim7/D♭ inversion
E diminished 7th is played in open position as 0 1 0 1: index finger on the C string at fret 1 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The G and E strings ring open.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (6) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
3rd fret
E diminished 7th is played at the 3rd fret as 3 4 3 4: index finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 4, middle finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 3 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 2 | G (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 4 | D♭ (6) |
Edim7/G inversion
E diminished 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 7 6 7: index finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 7.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (6) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (1) |
Why it sounds like that
E diminished 7th stacks minor thirds: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. Its altered interval creates tension while the supplied root and remaining tones stay fixed. Compare it with E minor 7th flat 5th, which has a minor seventh instead.
What goes wrong with E diminished 7th?
- Letting the index finger mute the C string by lying flat.
- Pressing the pinky on the A string fret 10 without enough arch, deadening the E string.
- Strumming before all four fingers are firmly placed.
When to use it
E diminished 7th works as a passing chord between E minor 7th flat 5th and F♯ minor. Its tense, symmetrical sound suits jazz turnarounds and dramatic pauses in ballads.
Changing to and from E diminished 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 8th fret gives E♭ diminished 7th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 10th fret gives F diminished 7th.
Which voicing to use
The 9th fret voicing puts E in the bass, giving the most direct root-position sound. The Edim7/G inversion at the open position places G in the bass, which softens the chord's attack and works well when moving to an F♯ chord.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E diminished 7th written?
E diminished 7th is written E°7 or Edim7. The root is E. The chord is sometimes called E diminished seventh.
How does this supplied chord create its distinctive sound?
Its verified note order explains the sound without relying on outside harmony. Spelling it D♭ keeps the chord's formula as 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. Check the exact supplied position before changing register or fingering.
How does E diminished 7th differ from E minor 7th flat 5th?
E minor 7th flat 5th has a minor seventh, D, while E diminished 7th has a diminished seventh, D♭. That one-semitone difference makes the diminished chord sound more tense and symmetrical.
Can I play E diminished 7th with a barre?
No, the 9th fret voicing uses four separate fingers. A barre would fret the G and E strings at fret 9, but you still need fingers for the C and A strings at fret 10.