E minor seventh flat five chord, commonly known by its acronym Em7b5 or Em7(b5), is a four-note chord used to add tension and drama to songs. To create this chord simply lower a minor 7th by half-step before creating the new Em7b5.
Follow these tips to quickly master this chord, and if you ever need help, use our Chord Poster as a quick cheat sheet!
Scales
E minor 7th flat 5 chord or E half-diminished chord is an exceptionally versatile and attractive chord, often employed in jazz, funk and R&B to add depth and sophistication to progressions. Its distinctive sound comes from combining elements of both minor and diminished chords into its soundscape.
This chord can be played as both an open chord or barre chord; beginners should consider practicing the barre version first as this allows for quicker fretboard navigation. When looking to improvise over this chord, several scales work particularly well; E Locrian scale is one example, which alternates half steps and whole steps and fits nicely with Em7b5. Another such scale is Phrygian dominant scale which emphasizes its lower 3rd (G) and 7th degrees (Bb). Both these options produce Middle Eastern or Spanish flavors when played over this chord type!
If you prefer more melodic scales, E major scale is an excellent option. Containing chord tones such as Em7b5 for an appealing sound and offering more melodic tones than its Phrygian dominant counterpart; for a chromatic alternative try E locrian scale or E locrian locrian. Both options work very well when used together!
The Em7b5 chord is a diatonic seventh chord, meaning that it can be played in any key. For instance, in F major it can serve as a secondary vii diminished chord while D minor offers its own version with minor 2-5-1 progressions.
To play this chord, begin with the root note of your chosen key and build a minor triad with chord tones from that key’s root note (F major for example). Next, build a minor 2-5-1 progression by adding an Em7b5 chord as an addition to this F major chord progression.
Intervals
E Minor 7 Flat 5, or Em7b5, is an intriguing chord that adds depth and complexity to progressions. Combining elements from both minor and diminished chords, Em7b5 offers endless musical exploration.
Em7b5 chord has an interval structure of b7-1-m3-b5. This makes it compatible with many scales, but one that works particularly well is the e minor locrian scale, consisting of notes E, F, G, A and C that complement perfectly its tones of Em7b5. Another scale that complements Em7b5 well is the e half-diminished scale which alternates half steps and whole steps for a chromatic sound that works perfectly with its diminished fifth note.
To gain a deeper understanding of this chord, try playing it while transitioning between other commonly used chords such as Am, C and D. This will allow your brain to quickly learn it and seamlessly incorporate this chord into your playing style. Strumming this chord while transitioning between different positions up and down the fretboard will also build finger strength. We have provided a printable piano keyboard reference chart featuring all our popular chord types such as Em7b5 so simply clicking any piano keys will activate its sound; clicking any name will open full reference pages featuring diagrams with guitar chord diagrams and inversions for easy reference!
Barre
The em7b5 piano chord, also referred to as F minor seventh flat five chord or Fo (F half-diminished), can also be called an Em minor seventh chord with its fifth reduced in terms of frequency. Depending on its use in context, such as as part of a minor ii-V-i progression or as a melodic minor scale chord progressions. Furthermore, it may even serve as a secondary substitute for V chords in major scale progressions.
Play an em7b5 chord by barrering all six strings with your index finger across the 7th fret, making it easier for beginners to learn since only two fingers are necessary to bar all six strings. Once in position, it can easily be moved up the fretboard using this technique – useful when moving quickly between barre chords. Furthermore, the em7b5 chord is an ideal place for developing strumming techniques; practice clean transitions between each note for optimal strumming patterns – starting slowly before gradually increasing speed as you become comfortable playing this chord.
Another popular approach for playing an em7b5 chord is by employing variations of the E diminished scale, which consists of notes found within E major scale and includes note Bb. This scale can help create rich and complex sound in music composition.
In addition to major and minor 7th chords, this page offers a collection of other types of voicings for common piano chords. Every chord featured has a full reference on the piano keyboard with guitar chord diagrams for all its inversions – click any chord name to access its individual full detail page with diagrams!
Beyond showing various voicings for this chord, we also provided a lesson on chromatic scales that can be used over it. Of particular note was our emphasis on E locrian mode – as its notes correspond exactly with those contained within this chord’s tones.
Fingerings
The Em7b5 chord can be played as either an open chord or barred version for added variation and practice up the neck, depending on your needs. Barred versions are especially beneficial when learning positions up the neck or playing chord progressions that require sliding between barred chords. To barre this chord, place your index finger across all six strings (barre). Next, position middle finger at 8th fret of 3rd string before positioning ring finger at 9th fret of 4th string before strumming all six strings simultaneously for an em7b5 chord!
This chord combines a minor seventh and flat fifth intervals, which are common among major seventh and dominant seventh chords. An example of such an intersection would be seen in an em7b5 chord which uses these intervals to produce a dominant seventh chord.
Suspended fourth chords provide another method of playing this chord, creating dissonant sounds that must be resolved and tension in music. They’re commonly used as tension-building devices.
Start practicing this chord by switching back and forth between open and barred versions, to see which suits you better. Once you’ve got it down pat, add it to your repertoire in songs using various keys for use as an em7b5 chord – you might find something beautiful comes of it!
Assimilation is key in developing muscle memory and developing guitar skills, so begin practicing this chord slowly before gradually increasing your speed as you become more adept with it. You could also try pairing it with other chords like Am and C to hone finger technique and learn to transition seamlessly between chords.
An effective way to practice is with a chord poster. This tool will help you memorize the notes and chord inversions for each chord, and familiarize yourself with its key. Click below for instructions on downloading one for this lesson; once it has downloaded, print out and post on your wall!