The E♭ Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of E♭, G♭, B♭♭, and D♭. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
E♭ Half Diminished = Root + Minor 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th = E♭ · G♭ · B♭♭ · D♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ | Root | 1 |
| G♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| B♭♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| D♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
E♭ Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭ |
| 1st Inversion | G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭ – E♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | B♭♭ – D♭ – E♭ – G♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | D♭ – E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ |
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 E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
E♭ Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the E♭ Half Diminished chord on piano?
The E♭ Half Diminished chord contains the notes E♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Eb Half Diminished chord?
Ebm7b5 contains: Eb, Gb, Bbb, Db. Diminished triad with minor seventh.
How does Ebm7b5 differ from Ebdim7?
Minor seventh (Db) vs diminished seventh (Dbb/C).
How is Ebm7b5 used?
ii chord in Db minor.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz minor-key harmony.
How does Ebm7b5 differ from Ebm7?
Flatted fifth (Bbb vs Bb).
Is Ebm7b5 the same as Gbm6?
Same notes, different root.