Explore chords · Ukulele
E diminished chord on ukulele (Edim)
Also called or written Edim or E°
E diminished contains E, G, and B♭. The 9th-fret shape mutes the E string even though it is a chord tone, to preserve the voicing.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5
How do you play an E diminished chord on ukulele?
E diminished is played at the 9th fret as 9 10 × 10: index finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the C string at fret 10 and ring finger on the A string at fret 10. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 3 | G (♭3) |
IntermediateThe ring finger must reach the A string at fret 10 while the middle finger holds the C string at fret 10, and the E string must be muted.
Edim/B♭ inversion · 12-10-12-10
E diminished is played at the 10th fret as 12 10 12 10: ring finger on the G string at fret 12, index finger on the C string at fret 10, pinky finger on the E string at fret 12 and middle finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 3 | G (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 12 | 4 | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (♭3) |
3rd fret
E diminished is played at the 3rd fret as 3 4 3 ×: index finger on the G string at fret 3, ring finger on the C string at fret 4 and middle finger on the E string at fret 3. The A string stays muted.
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) | muted | — | — |
Edim/B♭ inversion · ×-10-12-10
E diminished is played at the 10th fret as × 10 12 10: index finger on the C string at fret 10, ring finger on the E string at fret 12 and middle finger on the A string at fret 10. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 12 | 3 | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 2 | G (♭3) |
Why it sounds like that
E diminished is built from the 1, ♭3, ♭5 formula. The ♭5 interval creates a tritone with the root. Compare it to E minor, which has a perfect fifth B.
What goes wrong with E diminished?
- Letting the open E string ring through, which changes the voicing.
- Flattening the ring finger onto the E string, muting it unintentionally.
When to use it
E diminished works as a passing chord in D natural minor or F major. It suits tense, suspenseful moments in rock and jazz.
Changing to and from E diminished
- Sliding the shape down two frets to the 7th fret gives D diminished.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 10th fret gives F diminished.
Which voicing to use
The 9th-fret shape keeps E in the bass for a root-position sound. The Edim/G inversion puts G in the bass, which softens the dissonance slightly.
Other E chords
Common questions
How is E diminished written?
E diminished is written E° or Edim. The root is E.
What is the difference between E diminished and E minor?
E diminished lowers the fifth from B to B♭, creating a tritone. E minor keeps the perfect fifth B.
Why is the E string muted in the 9th-fret shape if E is a chord tone?
The E string is muted to preserve the intended bass note and voicing. The open E would change the inversion.