The D♭ Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of D♭, F♭, A♭♭, and C♭. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
D♭ Half Diminished = Root + Minor 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th = D♭ · F♭ · A♭♭ · C♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| D♭ | Root | 1 |
| F♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| A♭♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| C♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
D♭ Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | D♭ – F♭ – A♭♭ – C♭ |
| 1st Inversion | F♭ – A♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | A♭♭ – C♭ – D♭ – F♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | C♭ – D♭ – F♭ – A♭♭ |
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 D♭ – F♭ – A♭♭ – C♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
D♭ Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the D♭ Half Diminished chord on piano?
The D♭ Half Diminished chord contains the notes D♭ – F♭ – A♭♭ – C♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Db Half Diminished chord?
Dbm7b5 contains: Db, Fb, Abb, Cb. Diminished triad with minor seventh. Enharmonic of C#m7b5.
How does Dbm7b5 differ from Dbdim7?
Dbm7b5 has Cb (minor seventh). Dbdim7 has Bbb (diminished seventh).
How is Dbm7b5 used?
ii chord in Cb minor. C#m7b5 more commonly written.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz minor-key harmony. Autumn Leaves pattern.
How does Dbm7b5 differ from Dbm7?
Flatted fifth (Abb vs Ab).
Is Dbm7b5 the same as Fbm6?
Same notes, different root.