The A♭ Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of A♭, C♭, E♭♭, and G♭. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
A♭ Half Diminished = Root + Minor 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th = A♭ · C♭ · E♭♭ · G♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| A♭ | Root | 1 |
| C♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| E♭♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| G♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
A♭ Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ |
| 1st Inversion | C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | E♭♭ – G♭ – A♭ – C♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | G♭ – A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ |
Key Signature
A Half Diminished chord is built from symmetrical or ambiguous intervals, so it doesn’t belong to a single key and has no key signature of its own.
Same Notes, Other Names
The notes A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
A♭ Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the A♭ Half Diminished chord on piano?
The A♭ Half Diminished chord contains the notes A♭ – C♭ – E♭♭ – G♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Ab Half Diminished chord?
Abm7b5 contains: Ab, Cb, Ebb, Gb. Diminished triad with minor seventh.
How does Abm7b5 differ from Abdim7?
Minor seventh (Gb) vs diminished seventh (Gbb/F).
How is Abm7b5 used?
ii chord in Gb minor.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz minor-key harmony.
How does Abm7b5 differ from Abm7?
Flatted fifth (Ebb vs Eb).
Is Abm7b5 the same as Cbm6?
Same notes, different root.