The F 7♭5 chord is a four-note chord made up of F, A, C♭, and E♭. It is built from a root, major third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
F 7♭5 = Root + Major 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th = F · A · C♭ · E♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| F | Root | 1 |
| A | Major 3rd | 3 |
| C♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| E♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
F 7♭5 Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | F – A – C♭ – E♭ |
| 1st Inversion | A – C♭ – E♭ – F |
| 2nd Inversion | C♭ – E♭ – F – A |
| 3rd Inversion | E♭ – F – A – C♭ |
Key Signature
A chord has no key signature of its own, but the F 7♭5 is the tonic (I) chord of F Major, whose key signature has 1 flat (B♭).
B♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of F Major
These are the triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes F – A – C♭ – E♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
F 7♭5 — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the F 7♭5 chord on piano?
The F 7♭5 chord contains the notes F – A – C♭ – E♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the F 7♭5 chord?
The F 7♭5 chord (F7♭5) contains 4 notes: F, A, B, Eb. Formula: R-M3-d5-m7.
How is F7♭5 used in music?
F7♭5 is used in jazz, fusion, and contemporary music to add harmonic color. It appears as a dominant or tonic chord depending on context.
What is the scale degree formula for F7♭5?
F7♭5 uses scale degrees 1-3-b5-b7, giving it its distinctive sound.