E flat half-diminished chord (Ebm7(b5)) on piano
The E flat half-diminished chord (Ebm7(b5)) on piano has 4 notes: E flat, G flat, B double flat, and D flat (E♭, G♭, B𝄫, D♭). With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1 (1 is the thumb). On the keyboard below, the root (E flat) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.
- Notes
- E♭G♭B𝄫D♭
- Formula
- 1♭3♭5♭7
How to play Ebm7(b5) on piano
Root position · From low to high: E♭ G♭ B♭♭ D♭
Right hand: 1-2-3-5 Left hand: 5-3-2-1
Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger. The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.
Ebm7(b5) chord inversions
Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.
-
1st inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Gb)
Ebm7(b5)/Gb: G flat (♭3) in the bass
From low to high: G♭ B♭♭ D♭ E♭
-
2nd inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Bbb)
Ebm7(b5)/Bbb: B double flat (♭5) in the bass
From low to high: B♭♭ D♭ E♭ G♭
-
3rd inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Db)
Ebm7(b5)/Db: D flat (♭7) in the bass
From low to high: D♭ E♭ G♭ B♭♭
Notes and intervals of Ebm7(b5)
Ebm7(b5) (E flat half-diminished) is built from 4 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:
- E♭ · 1 · root
- G♭ · ♭3 · minor third
- B𝄫 · ♭5 · diminished fifth
- D♭ · ♭7 · minor seventh
About the half-diminished chord
The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.
Other E flat chords
- Eb
- Ebm
- Eb7
- Eb7M
- Ebm7
- Ebm7(b5)
- Eb°
- Eb°7
- Eb+
- Ebsus2
- Ebsus4
- Eb7sus4
- Eb5
- Ebadd9
- Eb6
- Ebm6
- Eb9
- Ebm(add9)
- Ebm9
- Eb7M(9)
- Ebm(7M)
- Eb7M(#5)
- Eb7(b9)
- Eb6(9)
- Ebm6(9)
- Eb11
- Ebm11
- Eb13
- Ebm13
- Eb7(#9)
- Eb7(#11)
- Eb7(b13)
- Eb7(#5)
- Eb7M(#11)
- Eb9sus4
Half-diminished: other roots
Arpeggio
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the Ebm7(b5) chord on piano?
Ebm7(b5) (E flat half-diminished) has the notes E♭, G♭, B𝄫, D♭. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7: root, minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.
How do you play Ebm7(b5) on piano?
Find the E flat key and add the other notes above it: E♭, G♭, B𝄫, D♭. Play them all together. With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1.
What are the inversions of Ebm7(b5)?
1st inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Gb): G♭ B♭♭ D♭ E♭; 2nd inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Bbb): B♭♭ D♭ E♭ G♭; 3rd inversion (Ebm7(b5)/Db): D♭ E♭ G♭ B♭♭.
What does Ebm7(b5) mean?
Ebm7(b5) is the chord symbol for E flat half-diminished. The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.
Is the Ebm7(b5) chord the same on piano and keyboard?
Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.