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E° Chord on Guitar

E° is the E diminished chord — 3 notes (E, G, B♭) built from the formula 1 ♭3 ♭5. Below are playable shapes across the fretboard, the keys it belongs to and the scales to use when soloing over it.

Notes: E · G · B♭Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5Hear it and see it on the fretboard ▸

E°: Chord shapes (open & barre)

  • E° – fret 2××R♭5R♭3fret 2
  • E° – fret 77×R♭5R♭3×fret 7
  • E° – fret 1111××R♭3♭5Rfret 11

E°: Triad voicings (3 strings)

  • E° – bass: R8R♭3♭5×××bass: R
  • E° – bass: R3×R♭3♭5××bass: R
  • E° – bass: R11××R♭3♭5×bass: R
  • E° – bass: R6×××R♭3♭5bass: R
  • E° – bass: ♭3♭3♭5R×××bass: ♭3
  • E° – bass: ♭38×♭3♭5R××bass: ♭3
  • E° – bass: ♭3××♭3♭5R×bass: ♭3
  • E° – bass: ♭311×××♭3♭5Rbass: ♭3
  • E° – bass: ♭55♭5R♭3×××bass: ♭5
  • E° – bass: ♭512×♭5R♭3××bass: ♭5
  • E° – bass: ♭58××♭5R♭3×bass: ♭5
  • E° – bass: ♭5×××♭5R♭3bass: ♭5

Keys that contain E°

Scales to play over E°

Ordered from the most common choice. All of them contain E, G, B♭.

Other E chords

Triads

Sevenths

Sixths

Added

Extended

Diminished chords in other keys

FAQ

What notes are in the E° chord?
E° (E diminished) contains E, G, B♭ — formula 1 ♭3 ♭5.
How do you play E° on guitar?
A common shape is xx2353 (low E to high E, x = muted string, around fret 2). This page shows more shapes, drop 2, drop 3 and shell voicings in the interactive library.
What scale goes with E°?
Good choices to solo over E°: E Locrian, E Diminished (whole-half), E Blues.
What key is E° in?
E° is diatonic in F major (vii°), D minor (ii°).