E diminished chord on piano

Edim · E° — a tense chord of two minor thirds that wants to move on.

Notes	E – G – B♭
Formula	1 – ♭3 – ♭5
Symbols	Edim, E°
Fingering (root position)	Right hand 1 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 1

How to play E diminished on the piano

Start on E. Add the third (G) and the fifth (B♭). With the right hand use fingers 1 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.

Inversions

The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays E diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.

Root position

E – G – B♭ · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 3 1

1st inversion

G – B♭ – E · RH 1 2 5 · LH 5 3 1

2nd inversion

B♭ – E – G · RH 1 3 5 · LH 5 2 1

Which keys use E diminished

In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:

ii° in D minor
vii° in F major

Other E chords

E major E minor E augmented E sus2 E sus4 E6 E7 E major seventh E minor seventh E diminished seventh E half-diminished

Practise chords with the Klavola app

Lessons, ear training, chord pads and hundreds of songs that listen to you play.

Get the app

▶ Play it on the full online piano · All piano chords