Edim Chord on Guitar
Notes E G B♭. Start with open Edim (0 1 2 0 x x): index on string 5 fret 1, middle on string 4 fret 2, open E and G strings, strings 2 and 1 not played.
Chord · Edim diminished
Open Edim (4 strings) · 0 1 2 0 x x
open strings
Diminished (root on 5th) (fret 7) · x 7 8 9 8 x
movable, no open strings
Edim, root on strings 6 and 4 (fret 12) · 12 x 14 12 11 x
movable, no open strings
1 E♭3 G♭5 B♭
- String 6 (low E): open
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 1
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 2
- String 3 (G): open
- String 2 (B): muted, do not play
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 7
- String 4 (D): middle (2), fret 8
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 9
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 8
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
- String 6 (low E): middle (2), fret 12
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 14
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 12
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 11
- String 1 (high e): muted, do not play
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from E |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E | root |
| ♭3 | G | minor 3rd |
| ♭5 | B♭ | diminished 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 ♭5 (diminished).
Also written E°, E diminished.
More on this chord type: Diminished chords
Keys that contain Edim
| Key | Edim is the |
|---|---|
| D minor | ii° |
| F major | vii° |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Edim: what goes wrong
Where Edim sits
Edim (E, G, B♭) is the vii° chord of F major and the ii° of D minor. In F major the E is the leading tone and pulls up to F, so Edim most often leads to F.
Leave out strings 2 and 1
The open B and high e strings would add B, which is not in Edim. Strum only the lowest four strings.
One grip, up the neck
The grip x 7 8 9 8 x is the same one as Bdim (x 2 3 4 3 x), Cdim (x 3 4 5 4 x) and F♯dim (x 9 10 11 10 x), with the root on string 5.
Related chords
Learn and practise Edim
- Metronomepractise the change to Edim at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Edim?
E, G, B♭: the 1, ♭3, ♭5 of the Edim diminished chord.
What does the ° mean in E°?
E° is another way to write Edim: the diminished triad E, G, B♭.