E Diminished 7th
Hear the E Diminished 7th chord played for you.
E°7
E – G – A♯ – C♯
Formula:R-m3-d5-d7
Intervals:P1-m3-d5-d7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5-bb7
Introduction
The E Diminished 7th chord is a four-note chord made up of E, G, A♯, and C♯. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and diminished seventh.
The E Diminished 7th piano chord (Edim7) consists of the notes E, G, A#, C#. It is built by stacking three minor thirds, creating a fully symmetrical 4-note chord, giving it a extremely tense and dramatic character, fully symmetrical and harmonically versatile. Formula: R-m3-d5-d7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5-bb7.
Notes
E Diminished 7th Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E – G – A# – C# |
| 1st Inversion | G – A# – C# – E |
| 2nd Inversion | A# – C# – E – G |
| 3rd Inversion | E – G – A# – C# |
Key Signature
The key of E Diminished 7th has 4 sharps.
F♯C♯G♯D♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of E Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the E major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — E Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5-d7
Intervals: P1-m3-d5-d7
The E Diminished 7th is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5-d7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5-d7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
E Diminished 7th — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the E Diminished 7th chord?
The E Diminished 7th chord (Edim7) contains four notes: E (root), G (minor third), Bb (diminished fifth), and Db (diminished seventh). All four notes are spaced exactly 3 semitones apart, making this a perfectly symmetrical chord.
How does E Diminished 7th differ from E Diminished?
E Diminished is a three-note triad (E, G, Bb). E Diminished 7th adds Db as the diminished seventh. This completes the symmetrical structure and creates maximum harmonic tension.
Why is the Diminished 7th chord symmetrical?
Every note in Edim7 is exactly 3 semitones from the next. Edim7 contains the same pitches as Gdim7, Bbdim7, and Dbdim7 — they are all inversions of the same four notes.
How is E Diminished 7th used in music?
Edim7 functions as a leading-tone chord in F Major, resolving up by half step to F Major or F minor. It also works as a chromatic passing chord and as a dramatic tension builder in classical and jazz contexts.
What songs use Diminished 7th chords?
Diminished 7th chords appear in Michelle (Beatles), throughout Chopin and Beethoven, and in jazz standards for chromatic voice leading. Edim7 specifically resolves naturally to F, making it common in pieces in F Major and F minor.
How many unique Diminished 7th chords exist?
Only three. Edim7 shares its notes with Gdim7, Bbdim7, and Dbdim7. The other two unique groups are Cdim7 and Ddim7. All 12 roots map to just these three distinct sounds.
Practice Tips
- Play Edim7 (E–G–Bb–Db) and notice all notes are on alternating white and black keys — a distinctive physical pattern.
- Edim7 resolves beautifully to F Major: try Edim7 → F for the classic leading-tone resolution.
- Verify the symmetry: play Edim7, Gdim7, Bbdim7, and Dbdim7 — all the same notes rearranged.
- Use Edim7 as a chromatic passing chord: Em7 → Edim7 → Dm7 for smooth jazz voice leading.
- Practice arpeggiating Edim7 across the keyboard — the pattern repeats every 3 semitones.
- Compare Edim7 with Em7 — both dark, but Edim7 has maximum tension while Em7 is smooth and settled.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.