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Piano chord

E♭dimE flat diminished

  • E♭1
  • G♭♭3
  • B𝄫♭5
Notes
3
Positions
3
Span
6semitones
Fingers
1-3-5

How to play E♭dim on piano

  1. Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
  2. Right hand: 1 on E♭, 3 on G♭, 5 on B𝄫.
  3. Or with the left hand: 5 on E♭, 3 on G♭, 1 on B𝄫.
  4. Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
  1. E♭dim on piano, Root position: E♭ G♭ B𝄫E♭, G♭, B𝄫B𝄫E♭G♭513
    E♭dim on piano, Root position: E♭ G♭ B𝄫E♭, G♭, B𝄫B𝄫E♭G♭153

    Root position · E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫

  2. E♭dim on piano, 1st inversion: G♭ B𝄫 E♭G♭, B𝄫, E♭B𝄫G♭E♭215
    E♭dim on piano, 1st inversion: G♭ B𝄫 E♭G♭, B𝄫, E♭B𝄫G♭E♭351

    1st inversion · G♭ – B𝄫 – E♭

  3. E♭dim on piano, 2nd inversion: B𝄫 E♭ G♭B𝄫, E♭, G♭B𝄫E♭G♭135
    E♭dim on piano, 2nd inversion: B𝄫 E♭ G♭B𝄫, E♭, G♭B𝄫E♭G♭521

    2nd inversion · B𝄫 – E♭ – G♭

Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.

E♭dim inversions

Here are all 3 positions of E♭dim. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has E♭ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.

Chords that go with E♭dim

The other chords of E major, the key where E♭dim is home (vii°). Songs in this key move between them.

E♭dim with two hands

A full sound: the left hand plays E♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays E♭–G♭–B𝄫.

E♭dim with two handsE♭, E♭, G♭, B𝄫B𝄫E♭E♭G♭5513

E♭dim on other instruments

About the E♭dim chord

The 3 notes of E flat diminished are E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B𝄫 (♭5). A diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked, with a flat fifth. Tense and unstable, it leads strongly to the next chord.

Put your thumb on E♭ and count up: E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫. The whole chord spans 6 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers E♭dim without stretching.

The inversions of E♭dim keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–B𝄫–E♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B𝄫 (B𝄫–E♭–G♭).

Take D𝄫 out of E♭dim7 and you get E♭dim.

E♭dim belongs to E major (vii°), C sharp minor (ii°).

Questions

What notes are in the E♭dim chord?

E♭dim (E flat diminished) has 3 notes: E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B𝄫 (♭5).

How many inversions does E♭dim have?

E♭dim can be played in 3 positions: Root position (E♭–G♭–B𝄫); 1st inversion (G♭–B𝄫–E♭); 2nd inversion (B𝄫–E♭–G♭).

What is the difference between E♭dim and E♭dim7?

Take D𝄫 out of E♭dim7 and you get E♭dim.

Can I play E♭dim with one hand?

Yes. In root position E♭dim spans 6 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.

More E♭ chords