How to play the Edim7 chord on guitar

The Edim7 chord, pronounced "E diminished seventh," is a complex and intriguing guitar chord. It's formed by combining an E diminished triad with a diminished seventh interval, creating a tense and unstable sound. This chord is often used in jazz, classical, and film music to add tension or transition between other chords. Notable songs featuring Edim7 include "The Entertainer" by Scott Joplin and "Michelle" by The Beatles.

The standard way to play the Edim7 chord on guitar is as a barre chord on the 7th fret.

Follow these finger positions to play a Edim7 chord on your guitar:

1. Barre your index finger across all six strings on the 7th fret.
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 9th fret of the 2nd (B) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the Edim7 chord. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your index finger to clearly fret all the notes.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the Edim7 chord, try this:

1. Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the A string.
2. Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the D string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 1st fret of the G string.
4. Strum only these three strings together.

The Edim7 chord can be played as a barre chord, which allows you to easily move the chord shape up and down the fretboard to play the chord in different keys.

Here's how to play an Edim7 barre chord:

1. Barre your index finger across the 7th fret, covering all six strings.
2. Place your middle finger on the 8th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 8th fret of the 5th (A) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 8th fret of the 4th (D) string.
5. Strum all six strings from the low E string to the high E string.

The Edim7 chord is often used to add tension and a sense of instability to chord progressions, creating a mysterious or unsettling emotional feel. Here are some common chord progressions featuring the Edim7 chord:

• i - iv - Edim7 - V7 (Am - Dm - Edim7 - E7) Used in "All The Things You Are" and "I'll Remember April"
• I - vi - Edim7 - V7 (C - Am - Edim7 - G7)
• ii - V7 - Edim7 - I (Dm7 - G7 - Edim7 - Cmaj7)
• iii - vi - Edim7 - ii7 - V7 (Em - Am - Edim7 - Dm7 - G7)
• vi - Edim7 - ii - V (Am - Edim7 - Dm7 - G7)

To master the Edim7 chord, try playing it as an arpeggio. Pluck each note individually in ascending and descending order: E, G, Bb, Db, Bb, G, E. Repeat this pattern slowly at first, gradually increasing speed as you become more comfortable.

Another helpful drill is to practice transitioning smoothly between Edim7 and other common chords. Try playing progression like Edim7 - Cmaj7 - Fmaj7 - Bbmaj7, focusing on clean transitions. As you improve, experiment with different chord combinations and rhythmic patterns to further ingrain the Edim7 shape.

Here are 10 popular songs you can play with the Edim7 chord.

1. All of Me by John Legend (Cm7, Cm/Bb, Ab, Abm7, Bb7, Edim7, Fm7, Bb7sus4)
2. Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers (Am7, Em7, Dm7, Am/G, Fmaj7, Em7b5, Edim7, Dm7)
3. Stairway to Heaven by Led Zeppelin (Am, E, C, D, Fmaj7, G, Am7, Dsus4, Edim7)
4. Hotel California by Eagles (Bm, F#7, A, E, G#m, F#, Edim7, F#7sus4)
5. Imagine by John Lennon (C, Cmaj7, F, Fm7, C7, Edim7, Dm7, G7)
6. My Favorite Things by John Coltrane (Em, C#m7b5, F#7, Bm, E7, Am, D7, Gmaj7, Edim7)
7. Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles (F, Gm7, Am7, Bbm7, F/A, Edim7, Dm7, Gm7, C7)
8. The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra (Gmaj7, G6, Bm7, E7, Am7, D7, Dm7, Edim7, Cmaj7, Bm7b5, E7b9)
9. Misty by Erroll Garner (Eb, Cm7, Fm7, Bb7, Ebmaj7, Ab7, Dm7b5, G7b9, Edim7, Dm7, G7)
10. Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra (Am7, Dm7, G7, Cmaj7, Fmaj7, Bm7b5, E7, A7, D7, Gm7, Edim7, A7b9)