E♭ Diminished Chord (Ebdim, D#dim) on Piano
The Ebdim chord (Eb diminished) is built from 3 notes: Eb – Gb – Bbb. It is also written as D#dim.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from Eb | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eb | 1 | root | 0 |
| Gb | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| Bbb | b5 | diminished 5th | 6 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | Eb – Gb – Bbb | Eb in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Gb – Bbb – Eb | Gb in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | Bbb – Eb – Gb | Bbb in the bass |
How the diminished chord is built
Every diminished chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), b5 (6 semitones). Starting on Eb and applying that formula produces Eb, Gb, Bbb. Learn the formula once and you can build a diminished chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Ebdim
Every note of Ebdim belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on Eb
Diminished chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Ebdim chord?
A Ebdim chord contains the notes Eb, Gb, Bbb. Those are the 1, b3, b5 degrees measured from the root note Eb.
How do you play Ebdim on piano?
Place your thumb on Eb, then add Gb and Bbb above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.
Is Ebdim the same as D#dim?
Yes. Ebdim and D#dim are enharmonic equivalents — they sound identical and use the same piano keys. Which spelling you use depends on the key you are playing in.