Edim Piano Chord

E diminished is the Edim piano chord. It has three notes: E, G and B flat. It is an E minor chord with the fifth lowered by one key onto a black note.

Edim piano chord diagram, root position, E G B♭

E at the bottom, then G and B♭. Right hand 1-3-5, left hand 5-3-1. The black key is B♭.

How to play Edim on piano, step by step

  1. Start on the E above middle C. That is the lowest note of the chord.
  2. Thumb (1): E
  3. Middle finger (3): G
  4. Little finger (5): B♭
  5. Press them together with the right hand. The left hand plays the same notes with fingers 5, 3, 1 an octave lower, or just E on its own as a bass note.

E minor and E diminished are one key apart. Rocking the little finger between B and B flat is a two second lesson in what the flat fifth does.

Inversions of Edim

The same 3 notes with a different one at the bottom. All of them are Edim; which you play depends on what the hand is coming from. Tap any card to hear it.

First inversionG B♭ E
Edim piano chord diagram, first inversion, G B♭ E
Lighter than root position and less final. A flat third in the bass tips the chord forward, which is why it usually sits between two other chords rather than at the end of a line.
Second inversionB♭ E G
Edim piano chord diagram, second inversion, B♭ E G
Open and slightly unresolved. A fifth in the bass makes the chord sound like a step on the way somewhere, which is mostly how it is used.

If it sounds wrong

The top note is B
That gives E minor. E diminished needs B flat, the black key one lower.
The chord sounds harsh
A diminished chord is meant to be unsettled. If it is too much on its own, play it as a passing chord between two others.
The little finger is weak
It sits on the black B flat, further into the keyboard than the other two fingers. Let the hand lean rather than stretching.

What makes it an Edim

E · G · B♭ 1 ♭3 ♭5

E diminished is E, G and B flat: the root, the flat third and the flat fifth.

It is the leading tone chord of F, so it pulls upward by a half step. It also works as a passing chord in the key of C, sliding between chords a step apart.

Edim vs Em

The top note. E minor has B; E diminished has B flat, one key lower.

E minor is one of the most restful chords on the piano and E diminished one of the least. They differ by a single black key.

Edim in major keys

Every note of Edim sits inside these keys. See how it works alongside the other chords in each one.

Questions about Edim

Which notes are in a Edim chord on piano?

E, G and B flat. It is a minor chord with the fifth lowered by one key.

What is the difference between Edim and E minor?

The top note. E minor has a normal fifth; Edim lowers it by one key to B flat. That single change turns a sad chord into a tense one.

How does a diminished chord resolve?

Usually up by one key. Edim leans toward F major, and playing the two in a row is the quickest way to hear why: every note of the diminished chord is a half step or a whole step from where it wants to go.

Is Edim hard to play?

No. It is three notes with an even shape, since a diminished triad is two minor thirds stacked. The intervals are the same size, which makes the hand position symmetrical and easy to remember.

Chords to learn next

Other E chords