The G♭ Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of G♭, B♭♭, D♭♭, and F♭. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
Construction
G♭ Half Diminished = Root + Minor 3rd + Diminished 5th + Minor 7th = G♭ · B♭♭ · D♭♭ · F♭
| Note | Interval | Degree |
|---|---|---|
| G♭ | Root | 1 |
| B♭♭ | Minor 3rd | ♭3 |
| D♭♭ | Diminished 5th | ♭5 |
| F♭ | Minor 7th | ♭7 |
G♭ Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭♭ – F♭ |
| 1st Inversion | B♭♭ – D♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ |
| 2nd Inversion | D♭♭ – F♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ |
| 3rd Inversion | F♭ – G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭♭ |
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 G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭♭ – F♭ aren’t exclusive to this chord. Depending on which note is the bass and how the chord functions, the same pitches also spell:
G♭ Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What is the G♭ Half Diminished chord on piano?
The G♭ Half Diminished chord contains the notes G♭ – B♭♭ – D♭♭ – F♭. On piano, play these notes together to sound the chord.
What notes are in the Gb Half Diminished chord?
Gbm7b5 contains: Gb, Bbb, Dbb, Fb. Enharmonic of F#m7b5.
How does Gbm7b5 differ from Gbdim7?
Minor seventh vs diminished seventh.
How is Gbm7b5 used?
F#m7b5 more commonly written.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz minor-key harmony.
How does Gbm7b5 differ from Gbm7?
Flatted fifth.
Is Gbm7b5 the same as Bbbm6?
Same notes, different root.