Note identifier · Reference entry
What chord is E–F–A–B?
Ranked readings
Every chord these notes can spell, most complete first. The bass note anchors the root-position reading; each candidate maps every note to its scale degree.
All tones of Fmaj7♭5 are present; the E note is lowest (3rd inversion).
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | sounding |
| 3 | A | sounding |
| ♭5 | C♭ | sounding |
| 7 | E | sounding |
3rd, ♭7, 9th, and 13th of G13 sound; it reads as G13 with the G (1), D (5), and C (11) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | omitted |
| 3 | B | sounding |
| 5 | D | omitted |
| ♭7 | F | sounding |
| 9 | A | sounding |
| 11 | C | omitted |
| 13 | E | sounding |
3rd, 7th, 11th, and 13th of Cmaj13 sound; it reads as Cmaj13 with the C (1), G (5), and D (9) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | omitted |
| 3 | E | sounding |
| 5 | G | omitted |
| 7 | B | sounding |
| 9 | D | omitted |
| 11 | F | sounding |
| 13 | A | sounding |
root, 3rd, 7th, and ♯11 of Fmaj7♯11 sound; it reads as Fmaj7♯11 with the C (5) omitted.
| Degree | Note | In this set |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | sounding |
| 3 | A | sounding |
| 5 | C | omitted |
| 7 | E | sounding |
| ♯11 | B | sounding |
Not these chords
Names these notes are often mistaken for. Each is ruled out because a defining tone of that chord is missing — the note that would make the name true simply is not being played.
Not Bm7♭5: a half diminished B chord needs D as its ♭3 — D is absent.
Not B7♭5: a dominant 7th ♭5 B chord needs D♯ as its 3rd — D♯ is absent.
Not F7♭5: a dominant 7th ♭5 F chord needs E♭ as its ♭7 — E♭ is absent.
Not Fmaj7♯5: a major 7♯5 F chord needs C♯ as its ♯5 — C♯ is absent.
Not Fdim(maj7): a diminished major 7th F chord needs A♭ as its ♭3 — A♭ is absent.
How these notes relate
E, F, A, and B is a voicing of G13 with the G (root), D (5th), and C (11th) left out.
Add D (its ♭3) and the set reads as Bm7♭5.
Set-class analysis
The pitch-class set theory identity of these notes — order- and key-independent, computed from the set itself.
- Pitch-class set
- {4, 5, 9, 11}
- Normal order
- [4,5,9,11]
- Prime form
- [0,1,5,7]
- Interval vector
- <110121>
- Forte set class
- 4-16
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