Root position E♭dim
E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-3-1
E♭ Diminished Chord on Piano
E♭dim E♭ G♭ B𝄫 Formula 1 b3 b5 3 notes
Also written D♯ dim: the same keys under another name.
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. Spelled by the rules of harmony, B𝄫 is the A key on the keyboard.
| Note | Interval from the root | Half steps |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 0 |
| G♭ | Minor 3rd | 3 |
| B𝄫 (the A key) | 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 E♭dim/G♭
G♭ – B𝄫 – E♭
Right hand 1-2-5Left hand 5-3-1
2nd inversion E♭dim/A
B𝄫 – E♭ – G♭
Right hand 1-3-5Left hand 5-2-1
Where it lives
Keys and scales with E♭ Diminished
Every key where E♭dim 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 (E♭dim) 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 E♭dim 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 E♭dim?
root position E♭dim (E♭ G♭ B𝄫); 1st inversion E♭dim/G♭ (G♭ B𝄫 E♭); 2nd inversion E♭dim/A (B𝄫 E♭ G♭).
Is E♭ Diminished the same as D♯ dim?
On the piano, yes: the same keys. The name changes with the key you are in - sharps in sharp keys, flats in flat keys.
Play it for real
Hold E♭dim 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.