Also written Edim7 or E°7
E diminished 7th contains E, G, B♭, and D♭. This advanced ukulele chord uses two fretted notes and two open strings, creating a tense, unstable sound.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E diminished 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭♭7. The diminished 5th between E and B♭ gives the chord its dark, unstable quality. Contrast it with E minor 7th flat 5th, which has a major 6th instead of a diminished 7th.
E diminished 7th works as a passing chord between E minor 7th flat 5th and F♯ major. Use it in jazz, classical, and dramatic passages where tension needs to resolve.
The Edim7/D♭ inversion at frets 0-1-0-1 puts D♭ in the bass, giving a darker, more unstable sound. The 3rd fret position at frets 3-4-3-4 has E in the bass, which is brighter and more direct.
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.
Tip — The hardest part is fretting two strings cleanly while letting two open strings ring without muting them.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | D♭ (♭♭7) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
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.
| 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♭ (♭♭7) |
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.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 | D♭ (♭♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 4 | E (1) |
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.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 2 | D♭ (♭♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (♭3) |
E diminished 7th is played in open position as 0 4 6 4: index finger on the C string at fret 4, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and middle finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | open | — | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 1 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 2 | D♭ (♭♭7) |
E diminished 7th is written E°7 or Edim7.
E diminished 7th has a diminished 7th (D♭), while E minor 7th flat 5th has a minor 7th (D). That one semitone changes the chord's tension and resolution.
E diminished 7th contains two tritones: E–B♭ and G–D♭. These intervals pull strongly toward resolution, making the chord feel restless.
E diminished 7th often resolves to F major or F minor, moving the B♭ up to C and the D♭ down to C. This creates a strong sense of arrival.