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

Edim chord, Open Edim (4 strings)E1B♭2EG××

Open Edim (4 strings) · 0 1 2 0 x x
open strings

1 E♭3 G♭5 B♭

Voicing · 3 shapes, easiest first
Fingers, low to high
  • 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

Notes and formula

DegreeNoteInterval from E
1Eroot
♭3Gminor 3rd
♭5B♭diminished 5th

Formula 1 ♭3 ♭5 (diminished).

Also written E°, E diminished.

More on this chord type: Diminished chords

Keys that contain Edim

KeyEdim 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

  • Emajor
  • Emminor
  • E7dominant 7th
  • Em7minor 7th
  • Emaj7major 7th
  • Esus4suspended 4th
  • E6major 6th
  • E9dominant 9th
  • E5power chord
  • AIV in E major
  • BV in E major

Learn and practise Edim

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♭.

All chords: the full chord directory