Piano chords · Diminished chord
Edim piano chord (E diminished)
Edim is a diminished chord with 3 notes. It sounds tense and unstable, pulling towards the next chord. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
E – G – B♭ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of Edim
Edim is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – ♭5):
- E, the root
- G, the minor third
- B♭, the diminished fifth
B♭ is a black key, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach it without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on E, 3 on G, 5 on B♭.
- Left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G, 1 on B♭.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | E – G – B♭ |
| 1st inversion | G – B♭ – E |
| 2nd inversion | B♭ – E – G |
Where Edim belongs
Edim is the vii° chord in F major, the chord that leads up a half step to F.
Edim is Em with the fifth lowered a half step (B becomes B♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.
Hear it in a progression
F – B♭ – Edim – F: I – IV – vii° – I in F major: listen to the diminished chord pull home.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the Edim chord?
Edim (E diminished) is made of E, G and B♭: the root, minor third and diminished fifth.
How do you play Edim on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on E, 3 on G, 5 on B♭, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on E, 3 on G, 1 on B♭.
How is Edim different from the plain chord?
Edim is Em with the fifth lowered a half step (B becomes B♭). That shrunken fifth is what makes it tense.