E half-diminished (Em7(b5)) chord on ukulele
- Notes
- EGB♭D
- Formula
- 1♭3♭5♭7
How to play Em7(b5) on ukulele
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Shape 1 · 1st position
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Shape 2 · fret 3
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Shape 3 · fret 6
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Shape 4 · fret 9
Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. x = do not play the string, o = open string. The coloured dot is the root (E).
Em7(b5) inversions on ukulele
The same Em7(b5) with another chord note in the bass (the lowest note that sounds). The notes stay the same, but the colour changes, and the bass line can move by step from one chord to the next. In a chord symbol, the bass comes after the slash.
3rd (G) in the bass1st inversion · Em7(b5)/G
3rd (G) in the bass1st inversion · Em7(b5)/G
5th (B♭) in the bass2nd inversion · Em7(b5)/Bb
7th (D) in the bass3rd inversion · Em7(b5)/D
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.
Notes and intervals of Em7(b5)
Em7(b5) (E 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
Other E chords
Half-diminished: other roots
Frequently asked questions
How do you play the Em7(b5) chord on ukulele?
Em7(b5) (E half-diminished) has 4 fingerings on this page, from easiest to hardest. Each diagram shows the fingers, the open strings (o) and the strings you do not play (x), and you can hear every shape.
What notes are in Em7(b5)?
The notes of Em7(b5) are E, G, B♭, D. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7: root, minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.
What does Em7(b5) mean?
Em7(b5) is the chord symbol for E 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.
Can I play Em7(b5) on other instruments?
Yes. Em7(b5) also has a page on guitar, on cavaquinho, with the fingerings for each instrument.