Root position Edim
E – G – B♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
E Diminished Chord on Piano
Edim E G B♭ Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Notes
What notes are in the E Diminished chord?
The E Diminished chord has 3 notes: E, G, B♭. Two minor thirds stacked: 3 half steps, then 3 more. The diminished fifth (6 half steps from E) gives it its tension.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| E | Root | 0 |
| G | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| B♭ | Diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions and fingering
Every way to play E Diminished
The same notes in a different order. The lowest note changes the name after the slash; the fingering below is the usual one - right hand from the lowest key up, left hand from the lowest key up too.
1st inversion Edim/G
G – B♭ – E
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion Edim/B♭
B♭ – E – G
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with E Diminished
Every key where Edim is one of the seven chords, with its Roman numeral, and the scales whose notes include all of it - the ones to improvise over it.
In these keys
Scales that contain all its notes
Questions
Frequently asked
What notes are in the E Diminished chord?
The E Diminished chord (Edim) is made of E, G, B♭. Its formula is 1 b3 b5 - the root, then the intervals of a diminished chord.
How do you play Edim on the piano?
Put your right thumb on E and play the other notes with fingers 1-3-5. With the left hand, use fingers 5-3-1 from the lowest key up.
What are the inversions of Edim?
root position Edim (E G B♭); 1st inversion Edim/G (G B♭ E); 2nd inversion Edim/B♭ (B♭ E G).
Play it for real
Hold Edim and build a progression on it
The GOONS piano studio has up to 88 keys, real piano samples, MIDI keyboard support, chord pads in any key and a sequencer. It comes with the GOONS Studio subscription - start with the 7-day free trial, no card required.