Edim Ukulele Chord

Edim is the E diminished chord, a diminished triad. It has three notes: E, G and B♭. The open G and E strings already sound two of them, so the standard shape needs just two fingers, and the whole chord sits inside the first four frets. It is a tense passing chord that climbs one fret into F.

21GEEB♭

Two fingers over two open strings: the open E is the root, the open G the flat three, with the second root fretted on the C string and the flat five on the A string.

How to play Edim on ukulele, step by step

  1. Index finger: 1st fret, A string
  2. Middle finger: 4th fret, C string
  3. Leave the G and E strings open. Strum all four strings.

Notice what the open strings are doing: the E is the root and the G the flat three, so your two fingers only add the second root and the flat five. Few chords on any instrument come this cheap.

More ways to play Edim

There are 3 common Edim shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Frets 4 to 7
Edim ukulele chord diagram, frets 4 to 7, played 0467

Fuller and higher, the fretted notes stacking above the open string. Good when the chord needs more presence.

Frets 6 to 7
Edim ukulele chord diagram, frets 6 to 7, played 0767

The thickest of the three, the doubled flat three giving the tension extra weight before it resolves.

If it buzzes or sounds dead

The open strings go quiet
The middle finger at the 4th fret of the C string is leaning sideways into the G or E string. Stand it on its tip so both open strings keep ringing.
The 1st fret note rattles
The index holds B♭ at the 1st fret of the A string, where a shallow placement buzzes most. Put the fingertip right behind the fret wire.
The chord sounds thin
The two fretted notes need to match the open strings in volume. Give the 4th fret note in particular a touch more pressure and strum evenly through all four strings.

What makes it an Edim

E · G · B♭ 1 ♭3 ♭5

Edim is two minor thirds stacked: E up to G, then G up to B♭. E minor would reach up to B; the diminished chord stops one fret short, and that shrunken fifth is the whole source of its tension.

Edim is the leading tone chord of F: it sits one fret below and climbs into it. Its three notes are also C7 with the C taken away, which is why Edim pushes to F exactly the way C7 does. In a song in F, the two chords are close cousins doing the same job.

Edim vs Em

Both start with E and G. E minor finishes with B and sounds settled; Edim finishes with B♭, one fret lower, and leans hard toward F.

Em is a home chord that carries whole songs. Edim is a connector: one or two beats of pull before F arrives. The names look alike on a chart, but the small circle or dim changes the chord's job completely.

Edim chord questions

Is Edim really a two finger chord?

Yes. The open E string is the root and the open G the flat three, so only two notes need fretting. It is among the easiest diminished chords on the instrument.

What is the difference between Edim and Edim7?

Edim is the three note triad: E, G, B♭. Edim7 adds a diminished seventh, C♯, for four notes. Ukulele songbooks often chart a dim7 grip and label it dim; this page is the plain triad.

What does Edim resolve to?

F, one half step up, or F minor. The chord shares three notes with C7 and pushes the same direction.

What does E° mean?

The small circle is the standard symbol for diminished. E°, Edim and E diminished all name the same three notes.

When would a song use Edim?

As a quick chromatic step into F, or as extra tension inside a turnaround in the key of F. It is a chord you pass through, not one you sit on.

Chords to learn next

Other E chords