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Guitar chords · Half-diminished 7th

Em7♭5 chord on guitar (Em7b5)

Em7♭5 (E 7th) has four notes: E, G, B♭ and D, the , ♭3, ♭5 and ♭7.

Shapes

How to play Em7♭5

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Em7♭5 has an , and one : the A shape at 7. A movable shape keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • Open

    ♭5R♭7EB♭EGDE
  • A shape · fret 7

    7fr××R♭5♭7♭3EB♭DG
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Em7♭5 half-diminished 7th

A is a with a minor 7th added, also written ø7. It is the vii chord of a major key with sevenths, and the ii chord of a minor key, where it leads into V in a minor ii–V–i.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd, the ♭5th and the ♭7th make Em7♭5 a .

  1. ERroot
  2. G♭3essential
  3. B♭♭5essential
  4. D♭7essential
EADGBE0135791215EEEEEEEEEGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DGB♭DG
  • E, the root
  • Other chord tones

Em7♭5 usually leads to A7 and then Dm: the iiø7–V7–i of D minor.

Keys

Keys with Em7♭5

Em7♭5 belongs to two keys: F major (viiø7) and D minor (iiø7).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with Em7♭5

Common progressions that use Em7♭5, each in a key that spells it Em7♭5. The outlined chord is Em7♭5.

  • Minor ii–V–i in D minor

    iiø7 – V7 – i7

    1. Em7♭5
    2. A7
    3. Dm7

    Half-diminished ii, dominant V7 and back to the minor tonic.

    Heard in Blue Bossa, Autumn Leaves

Slash chords

Em7♭5 over another bass note

A keeps Em7♭5 on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Em7♭5/G

    Em7♭5 with its ♭3rd, G, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Em7♭5/B♭

    Em7♭5 with its ♭5th, B♭, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Em7♭5/D

    Em7♭5 with its ♭7th, D, in the bass: the third inversion.

Questions

Em7♭5, in short

What notes are in the Em7♭5 chord?
Em7♭5 (E 7th) has four notes: E, G, B♭ and D, the , ♭3, ♭5 and ♭7.
How do you play Em7♭5 on guitar?
Em7♭5 has an , and one : the A shape at 7.
What key is Em7♭5 in?
Em7♭5 belongs to two keys: F major (viiø7) and D minor (iiø7).
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