Edim Guitar Chord

Edim guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2

Chord shapes:(2 positions)

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Triad

Arpeggio for this shape

P - i - m - a · Classic Ascending (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)

The thumb plays E on the 4th and the three top strings add up to 3 different notes. All 6 arpeggios

Steady bass with uniform ascending movement.

Speed:

What sets Edim apart

The notes of Edim are E, G and Bb. E is the root, G the minor third and Bb the flat fifth. Said aloud, its notes are E, G and B flat.

From the low string to the high one you hear E, Bb, E and G. Of the four strings you play, two give E, the note that names the chord. The lowest note is E on string 4 and the highest is G on string 1.

Edim is a closed shape with no open strings. Move it to another fret and the chord changes, but the fingering stays. Strings 6 and 5 are not played. Everything fits between frets 2 and 5. The second shape on this page starts at fret 1.

Edim7 is one change away. String 2 moves from fret 5 to fret 2, bringing in Db, the diminished seventh of Edim7. It shares two notes with C, E and G. The change that keeps the most fingers still is to A. One stays in place.

Edim belongs to two keys. In F major it is the vii° and in D minor the ii°.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

Recommended practice sequences

01C C - Am - Dm - G7 02G G - Em - Am - D7 03D D - Bm - Em - A7 04A A - F#m - Bm - E7

Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Edim)

Formula: Diminished Triad (1 - ♭3 - ♭5)

Constituent chord intervals:

E 1G ♭3Bb ♭5

Root Bass (Fundamental String)4th String (D) • Fret 2 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Edim:

Select each shape in the diagram above to view and listen to it

Triad

Standard Position

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 4th String (D)

String Control (Muted & Active):

6th String (Low E)

×Muted

Do not play

5th String (A)

×Muted

Do not play

Root

4th String (D)

Fret 2Finger 1

EDegree 1

3rd String (G)

Fret 3Finger 2

2nd String (B)

Fret 5Finger 4

EDegree 1

1st String (High E)

Fret 3Finger 3

GDegree ♭3

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Index finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 3 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 5 with your Pinky finger, 1st String (High E) at fret 3 with your Ring finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 5th String (A).

Open

Inversion

4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)

String Control (Muted & Active):

Root

6th String (Low E)

○Open

EDegree 1

5th String (A)

Fret 1Finger 1

4th String (D)

Fret 2Finger 2

EDegree 1

3rd String (G)

○Open

GDegree ♭3

2nd String (B)

×Muted

Do not play

1st String (High E)

×Muted

Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 3rd String (G). Don't play: 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Edim)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

Item	In this chord
Frets	2 to 5
Fretting fingers	4
Open	none
Muted	6th and 5th

What to check

The hand spans 4 frets, from 2 to 5.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Edim

Listen: Edim → A · Dbm · E

Edim
A
Edim
Dbm
Edim
E

Edim → A01

Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays

Stay in place

finger 1: string 4, fret 2

Move

finger 2: string 3, fret 2
finger 3: string 2, fret 2

Edim → Dbm02

Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position

Stay in place

string 2, fret 5

Move

string 5, fret 4
string 4, fret 6
string 3, fret 6
string 1, fret 4

Edim → E03

Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move

finger 2: string 5, fret 2
finger 3: string 4, fret 2
finger 1: string 3, fret 1

Edim in every key

Edim sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty: 4/5
Highest fret: 5
Frets the hand covers: 4
Barre: No
Strings that ring: 4/6
Fretting fingers: 4

Major keys

vii°F major

Minor keys

ii°D minor

Edim on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.

Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Edim)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Edim chord?

To play the Edim chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 4 to string 1. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Edim chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Edim chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 4 at fret 2.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Edim chord and what is its formula?

The Edim chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 formula (Diminished Triad). Its constituent pitches are E, G, Bb.

How do you prevent the Edim chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Edim chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Edim chord diagram

Edim guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4

Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord E Chord Eb Chord Em Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7