E Half Diminished
Hear the E Half Diminished chord played for you.
Eø7
E – G – A♯ – D
Formula:R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals:P1-m3-d5-m7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5-b7
Introduction
The E Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of E, G, A♯, and D. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
The E Half Diminished piano chord (Em7b5) consists of the notes E, G, A#, D. It is a diminished triad with an added minor 7th, giving it a dark, moody, and tense character commonly used in jazz and minor key progressions. Formula: R-m3-d5-m7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5-b7.
Notes
E Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | E – G – A♯ – D |
| 1st Inversion | G – A♯ – D – E |
| 2nd Inversion | A♯ – D – E – G |
| 3rd Inversion | E – G – A♯ – D |
Key Signature
The key of E Half Diminished has 4 sharps.
F♯C♯G♯D♯
Order of sharps
Sharps are added to a key signature in a fixed order. Each new sharp key adds the next sharp on the list.
F♯C♯G♯D♯A♯E♯B♯
Mnemonic: Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle
Chords in the Key of E Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the E major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — E Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals: P1-m3-d5-m7
The E Half Diminished is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
E Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the E Half Diminished chord?
Em7b5 contains: E, G, Bb, D. Diminished triad with minor seventh.
How does Em7b5 differ from Edim7?
Minor seventh (D) vs diminished seventh (Db).
How is Em7b5 used?
ii chord in D minor (Em7b5–A7–Dm). Very common in jazz.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz standards in D minor.
How does Em7b5 differ from Em7?
Flatted fifth (Bb vs B).
Is Em7b5 the same as Gm6?
Same notes, different root.
Practice Tips
- Minor-key ii–V–i in D minor: Em7b5 → A7 → Dm.
- Em7b5 and Gm6 same notes.
- Compare with Edim7 and Em7.
- Common in jazz standards.
- The Bb creates the half-diminished tension.
- Nearly all white keys plus Bb.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.