Em7b5 Chord (E half-diminished) on Guitar
Em7b5 (E half-diminished (minor 7 flat 5)) is made of the notes E – G – Bb – D. The easiest guitar fingering is 010030 (low E to high e; x = muted, 0 = open). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it comfortable to play.
Easiest shape
Alternative shape
How to play Em7b5
- Play the 6th string (low E) open (E).
- Press the 5th string (A) at fret 1 (Bb).
- Play the 4th string (D) open (D).
- Play the 3rd string (G) open (G).
- Press the 2nd string (B) at fret 3 (D).
- Play the 1st string (high e) open (E).
| String | Fret | Note | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6th string (low E) | 0 (open) | E | R |
| 5th string (A) | 1 | Bb | b5 |
| 4th string (D) | 0 (open) | D | b7 |
| 3rd string (G) | 0 (open) | G | b3 |
| 2nd string (B) | 3 | D | b7 |
| 1st string (high e) | 0 (open) | E | R |
What is a E half-diminished (minor 7 flat 5) chord?
A half-diminished (minor 7 flat 5) chord is a diminished triad with a minor seventh. It is the seventh-degree chord of a major scale.
Notes and formula. Em7b5 contains E, G, Bb, D. Counted from the root E, that is R (root), b3 (minor 3rd), b5 (diminished 5th), b7 (minor 7th).
Sound. Moody and sophisticated, less harsh than a fully diminished chord.
Where it is used. Used constantly in jazz as the ii chord of a minor ii-V-i progression, and in many ballads.
Tips for playing Em7b5
It often shares its shape with a minor 6th chord. Learn them as pairs.
Common mistake: Calling it a diminished chord. A fully diminished 7th has a diminished (double-flat) seventh instead.
Keys that contain Em7b5
Em7b5 is a diatonic chord, meaning it occurs naturally without accidentals, in these keys:
Try it in a progression: browse chord progressions for every key.
Related chords
Em7b5 chord FAQ
What notes are in a Em7b5 chord?
Em7b5 (E half-diminished (minor 7 flat 5)) contains the notes E, G, Bb, D. The formula is R–b3–b5–b7 relative to the root E.
How do you play Em7b5 on guitar?
The most common shape for Em7b5 is 010030, read from the low E string to the high e string (x = muted, 0 = open, numbers = frets). It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it comfortable to play.
Is Em7b5 an easy guitar chord?
It is rated advanced. It needs only 2 fingers, which makes it comfortable to play.
Which keys contain Em7b5?
Em7b5 is a diatonic chord in F major (vii°), D minor (ii°).
Get one useful guitar tip a week
New chord guides, practice ideas and app updates. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.