Chord chart

Edim Chord on Guitar: 3 Easy Ways to Play E Diminished (Charts)

Edim chord charts with finger numbers, an easier version, the notes and intervals, and the keys and progressions that use it. Also searched as edim chord, edim guitar chord and how to play Edim.

By David Sandy, guitar player and founder of Sandy Music Lab. Every chord shape on this page is checked note by note against the chord's formula.

Edim chord diagram, Open positionEdim Open position: low E open, A fret 1, D fret 2, G open, B muted, high e muted.12××0 1 2 0 x x
Open position
0 1 2 0 x x
Edim chord diagram, Easy 4-string versionEdim Easy 4-string version: low E muted, A muted, D fret 2, G fret 3, B fret 5, high e fret 3.××1243x x 2 3 5 3
Easy 4-string version
x x 2 3 5 3
Edim chord diagram, Movable shape (7th fret)Edim Movable shape (7th fret): low E muted, A fret 7, D fret 8, G fret 9, B fret 8, high e muted.7fr×1243×x 7 8 9 8 x
Movable shape (7th fret)
x 7 8 9 8 x

Numbers are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky, T thumb). × = don't play that string, ○ = play it open. A long bar is a barre: one finger flat across those strings. Strings run low E (left) to high e (right).

Chord chart by Sandy Music Lab

Quick answer: To play Edim (E diminished) on guitar, play 0 1 2 0 x x from the low E string to the high e string (the open position shape). The chord contains E, G, Bb. If that is hard, use the easier shape x x 2 3 5 3, which needs 4 fretted notes.

Edim chord facts

Chord Edim (E diminished)
Other names E°, Edim triad
Notes E, G, Bb
Intervals E (root), G (minor 3rd), Bb (diminished 5th)
Formula 1-b3-b5
Difficulty Beginner
Shapes on this page 3

How do you play Edim on guitar?

The main shape is 0 1 2 0 x x (Open position). Finger by finger:

  1. Put your index finger (1) on the A string at fret 1 (Bb, the diminished 5th).
  2. Put your middle finger (2) on the D string at fret 2 (E, the root).
  4. Let the low E (E) and G (G) strings ring open.
  5. Don't play the B and high e strings: start your strum on the low E string, or touch them lightly to mute.