stringery

E diminished Diminished & augmented family

Tense and uneasy, like a question.

Easiest shape1 of 4

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 5th, which gives the chord its sound.

Change a finger and see what it becomes

Built from

  • Eroot
  • Gminor 3rd
  • B♭flat 5th

The flat 5th is the most unstable interval there is. It cannot stay put.

Tension: Restless

Hear it in a progression

Where it goes next

Thinking in F major, where it is the vii° chord.

  • F

    I. Its top note leads up one fret, straight home.

  • Am

    iii. Settles onto iii.

Sounds close

  • C7

    Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, G and B♭.

  • C♯dim7

    Shares 3 of its notes. Both have E, G and B♭.

  • C

    Shares 2 of its notes. Both have E and G.

  • E♭

    Shares 2 of its notes. Both have G and B♭.

Keys it lives in