The Ebm7b5 chord contains E♭, G♭, B𝄫 and D♭. Also written E♭m7♭5 or E♭ø7, it combines a diminished triad and a minor seventh. B𝄫 sounds on the A key.
Build the Ebm7b5 chord by lowering B♭ in E♭ minor seventh to B𝄫. Keep E♭, G♭ and D♭. Its formula is 1–♭3–♭5–♭7: the fifth is six semitones above the root. The letter B identifies the fifth even when the piano key is labelled A.
This spelling includes B𝄫. Preserve the theoretical written spelling even when an enharmonic name shares the same piano key.
Choose a position to keep the four written notes, sounding keys, bass note, playback and print reference synchronized.
Build the Ebm7b5 chord with E♭, G♭, the A pitch class for B𝄫, and D♭. B♭ instead of B𝄫 restores Ebm7. The exercise checks the four pitch classes without identifying an inversion from click order or judging a live performance.
E♭m7♭5 uses 1–♭3–♭5–♭7: E♭–G♭–B𝄫–D♭.
a diminished triad plus a minor seventh
Compared with E♭ diminished, add the minor seventh above the root.
A seventh chord has four chord tones and therefore four positions: root position plus three inversions. The slash symbol identifies the written bass note.
| Position | Symbol | Notes, low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position, current selection | E♭m7♭5 | E♭4–G♭4–B𝄫4–D♭5 | E♭4 |
| First inversion | E♭m7♭5/G♭ | G♭4–B𝄫4–D♭5–E♭5 | G♭4 |
| Second inversion | E♭m7♭5/B𝄫 | B𝄫4–D♭5–E♭5–G♭5 | B𝄫4 |
| Third inversion | E♭m7♭5/D♭ | D♭5–E♭5–G♭5–B𝄫5 | D♭5 |
The Ebm7b5 chord diagrams retain B𝄫 in every position while marking the sounding A key. G♭, B𝄫 and D♭ begin the three inversions. Read the octave labels when comparing positions; these diagrams supply pitches without assigned fingers or a required one-hand shape.
Use the written notes, keyboard positions and playback without treating the diagram as a required hand shape.
Read left- and right-hand finger numbersOpen Music Theory
Supports: Half-Diminished Seventh chord construction, written spelling and inversion principles
Scope: Supports theory and spelling only; keyboard layouts are PianoGrid examples, and no fingering is assigned.
E♭, G♭, B𝄫 and D♭: root, minor third, diminished fifth and minor seventh. The double flat belongs to B, not to every note in the chord.
The fifth above E♭ needs the letter B. Lowering the perfect fifth B♭ one semitone produces B𝄫, sounding on A. The written interval remains a fifth.
Both symbols identify the Ebm7b5 chord. The slashed circle means half-diminished; m7♭5 describes a minor seventh chord with a lowered fifth.
The Ebm7b5 chord uses D♭, a minor seventh. E♭dim7 uses D𝄫, a diminished seventh, sounding on C. Their first three chord members agree, but the seventh differs.
Select the four pitch classes that make E♭m7♭5, then check your answer.
This one-octave exercise checks the exact four-note pitch-class set. Order and inversion do not affect the result; missing and extra notes are reported, while fingering and live performance are not assessed.
One octave, C through B. Select a key again to remove it.
Chord tones: E♭–G♭–B𝄫–D♭ · Formula: 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7
Dots mark the notes to play. C4 is middle C. Numbers identify octaves, not fingers.