E diminished chord on ukulele (Edim)

Edim is E, G and B♭. The usual shape is 3-4-3-1. Press Play to hear it, then try it at half speed.

3-4-3-1 · movable · medium

Notes: E · G · B♭
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5
First shape: 3-4-3-1

How to play Edim on ukulele

Shape 1, 3-4-3-1, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: A string, 1st fret (B♭).
Middle finger: G string, 3rd fret (B♭).
Ring finger: E string, 3rd fret (G).
Pinky: C string, 4th fret (E).

This shape uses your pinky. It feels weak at first; press with the tip and let the finger stay curved.
The shape stretches across four frets. Bring your thumb lower behind the neck to open the hand up.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Edim

9-7-6-7: movable shape at the 6th fret, medium. A different set of strings gives a different color of the same chord.
12-10-12-10: movable shape at the 10th fret, medium. Up the neck the chord gets thinner and brighter, a good contrast to the open version.

Changing from Edim to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold Edim for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

F (leads up a half step): Edim (3-4-3-1) to F (2-0-1-0): the index finger slides across to the E string at the same fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 2nd fret. F on ukulele
Fm (leads up a half step): Edim (3-4-3-1) to Fm (1-0-1-3): your index finger lands on the G string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the E string, 1st fret, the ring finger slides across to the A string at the same fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Fm on ukulele
Am (iii in F major): Edim (3-4-3-1) to Am (2-0-0-0): move the index finger to the G string, 2nd fret. Shared note: E. Am on ukulele

Edim is a diminished triad: two minor thirds stacked. All 3 notes of Edim fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Getting Edim under your fingers

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: B♭, E, G, B♭. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Then switch to 9-7-6-7 and back four times without looking at your hand.

Keys and progressions with Edim

Edim on guitar and piano

Edim on guitar and piano uses the same 3 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on ukulele

Other diminished chords

Edim on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Edim on ukulele?

E, G and B♭. In the 3-4-3-1 shape the strings play B♭ (G string), E (C string), G (E string) and B♭ (A string), so B♭ is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Edim on ukulele?

In standard tuning Edim can't use open strings. Begin with 3-4-3-1. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, and a capo is worth trying when the song allows.

Is Edim a barre chord on ukulele?

Not in its common form: 3-4-3-1 needs no barre.

Which string does Edim start on?

In the 3-4-3-1 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 3rd fret, which is B♭, the diminished fifth.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes E, G and B♭ and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.