Piano chord
Gm7♭5G half-diminished
- G1
- B♭♭3
- D♭♭5
- F♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play Gm7♭5 on piano
- Find G: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on G, 2 on B♭, 3 on D♭, 5 on F.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on G, 4 on B♭, 3 on D♭, 1 on F.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · G – B♭ – D♭ – F
1st inversion · B♭ – D♭ – F – G
2nd inversion · D♭ – F – G – B♭
3rd inversion · F – G – B♭ – D♭
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Gm7♭5 inversions
Use these 4 positions to move between chords with as little hand movement as possible. Root position starts on G; the inversions start on the other notes of the chord.
- Root positionbass: GRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: B♭Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: D♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: FRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with Gm7♭5
The other chords of A flat major, the key where Gm7♭5 is home (viiø7). Songs in this key move between them.
Gm7♭5 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays G an octave lower, the right hand plays G–B♭–D♭–F.
Gm7♭5 on other instruments
About the Gm7♭5 chord
To build G half-diminished, take these 4 notes from the root up: G (1), B♭ (♭3), D♭ (♭5), F (♭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.
The keys are G – B♭ – D♭ – F, counted up from G; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 10 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold Gm7♭5, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of Gm7♭5 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is B♭ (B♭–D♭–F–G). In the 2nd inversion the bass is D♭ (D♭–F–G–B♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is F (F–G–B♭–D♭).
Compared with Gdim, Gm7♭5 has one more note, F.
You meet Gm7♭5 in these keys: A flat major (viiø7), F minor (iiø7).
Questions
What notes are in the Gm7♭5 chord?
Gm7♭5 (G half-diminished) has 4 notes: G (1), B♭ (♭3), D♭ (♭5), F (♭7).
How many inversions does Gm7♭5 have?
Gm7♭5 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (G–B♭–D♭–F); 1st inversion (B♭–D♭–F–G); 2nd inversion (D♭–F–G–B♭); 3rd inversion (F–G–B♭–D♭).
What is the difference between Gm7♭5 and Gdim?
Compared with Gdim, Gm7♭5 has one more note, F.
Can I play Gm7♭5 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Gm7♭5 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.