Also written E♭dim or E♭°
E♭ diminished is built from the notes E♭, G♭, and B♭♭. The open A string makes this a comfortable first diminished shape on ukulele.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E♭ diminished stacks a minor 3rd from E♭ to G♭ and another minor 3rd from G♭ to B♭♭, with a diminished 5th between E♭ and B♭♭. That flattened fifth creates the chord's tense, unstable quality. Compare E♭ minor, which raises the fifth to B♭.
E♭ diminished works as a passing chord in E♭ minor, often moving to E♭ minor or F♯ major. It suits tense, dramatic moments in classical and jazz.
The default voicing puts E♭ in the bass, giving a dark, unstable sound. For a root-position feel, use the ×-3-2-0 shape with E♭ in the bass.
E♭ diminished is played in open position as 2 3 2 0: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 3 and middle finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string rings open.
Tip — The index and middle fingers must both fret the 2nd fret without touching the open A string.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | B♭♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 3 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | B♭♭ (♭5) |
E♭ diminished is played at the 9th fret as 11 9 11 9: ring finger on the G string at fret 11, index finger on the C string at fret 9, pinky finger on the E string at fret 11 and middle finger on the A string at fret 9.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 3 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 1 | B♭♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 4 | E♭ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | G♭ (♭3) |
E♭ diminished is played in open position as × 3 2 0: middle finger on the C string at fret 3 and index finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string rings open. The G string stays muted.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 1 | G♭ (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | B♭♭ (♭5) |
E♭ diminished is written as E♭° or E♭dim. On a keyboard, use Eb as the ASCII root. It is also spelled D♯ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
E♭ diminished lowers the fifth from B♭ to B♭♭, while E♭ minor keeps the perfect fifth B♭. That half-step change makes the chord sound tense instead of sad.
Yes, the default voicing 2-3-2-0 uses an open A string. The open string is the root note, so it reinforces the chord.