Piano chord
E♭m7♭5E flat half-diminished
- E♭1
- G♭♭3
- B𝄫♭5
- D♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play E♭m7♭5 on piano
- Find E♭: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on E♭, 2 on G♭, 3 on B𝄫, 5 on D♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on E♭, 4 on G♭, 3 on B𝄫, 1 on D♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫 – D♭
1st inversion · G♭ – B𝄫 – D♭ – E♭
2nd inversion · B𝄫 – D♭ – E♭ – G♭
3rd inversion · D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
E♭m7♭5 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on E♭; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: G♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: B𝄫Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: D♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with E♭m7♭5
The other chords of E major, the key where E♭m7♭5 is home (viiø7). Songs in this key move between them.
E♭m7♭5 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays E♭ an octave lower, the right hand plays E♭–G♭–B𝄫–D♭.
E♭m7♭5 on other instruments
About the E♭m7♭5 chord
To build E flat half-diminished, take these 4 notes from the root up: E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B𝄫 (♭5), D♭ (♭7). A half-diminished chord: a diminished triad with the flat seventh. It is the ii chord in minor keys and leads to the dominant.
On the keyboard, start from E♭ and add the other notes above it: E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫 – D♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so E♭m7♭5 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of E♭m7♭5 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is G♭ (G♭–B𝄫–D♭–E♭). In the 2nd inversion the bass is B𝄫 (B𝄫–D♭–E♭–G♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–E♭–G♭–B𝄫).
Compared with E♭dim, E♭m7♭5 has one more note, D♭.
Keys that contain E♭m7♭5: E major (viiø7), C sharp minor (iiø7).
Questions
What notes are in the E♭m7♭5 chord?
E♭m7♭5 (E flat half-diminished) has 4 notes: E♭ (1), G♭ (♭3), B𝄫 (♭5), D♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does E♭m7♭5 have?
E♭m7♭5 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (E♭–G♭–B𝄫–D♭); 1st inversion (G♭–B𝄫–D♭–E♭); 2nd inversion (B𝄫–D♭–E♭–G♭); 3rd inversion (D♭–E♭–G♭–B𝄫).
What is the difference between E♭m7♭5 and E♭dim?
Compared with E♭dim, E♭m7♭5 has one more note, D♭.
Can I play E♭m7♭5 with one hand?
Yes. In root position E♭m7♭5 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.