Ebdim

General info

Common name

Eb Diminished

Root note

Eb

Bass

Eb

Quality

Diminished

Notations

Ebdim, Eb°

Chord notes

Chord notes

1Ebroot

b3Gbminor 3rd

b5Adim 5th

Functions & resolutions

Typical function in key

vii°Leading tone (vii°)E major

Stability / tension

Maximum tension — extremely unstable

Most common resolutions

EE MajorGG Major

Unstable degrees

b3Gb→ Fresolves down to the 2nd

b5A→ Abresolves inward to the 4th

Resolves to

Ebdimsource

EE Major

Diminished Ebdim acts as a leading-tone chord — resolves up a half step to E. All degrees are unstable and pull outward.

Ebdimsource

Deceptive resolution

GG Major

Due to its symmetry, a diminished chord can resolve to any major or minor chord a minor 3rd apart.

Ebdimsource

Modal resolution

FmF Minor

In modal context, a diminished chord can be used as a passing chord, connecting two diatonic chords through chromatic bass motion.

Ebdimsource

Jazz reharmonization

D7D Dominant 7

In jazz, dim7 is often reinterpreted as a rootless dominant 7b9. For example, Ebdim7 ≈ D7b9, opening additional resolution paths.

Ebdimsource

Functional resolution

BbmBb Minor

A diminished chord can function as a leading-tone chord to any degree — not just the tonic. Often used before the ii, iii, or vi degrees.

Features

Character

Unstable, dark

Characteristic interval

Diminished 5th (b5)

Description

The diminished fifth (tritone) is a symmetric interval creating maximum instability. The chord "demands" resolution.

Chord voicing & structure

Harmony

Harmonic context

vii°E majorDominantii°C# minorPredominantvi°F# DorianToniciii°B MixolydianTonic

Harmonic context

Circle of Fifths

Diatonic in 1 key. Click a key to see details.

Relative key

C#m

Dominant

B

Subdominant

A

Key signature

4#