Skip to content

Em7♭5 chord on guitar

Em7♭5 (E half-diminished) is E, G, B♭ and D. The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x7878x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 7th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 8th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 8th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

Em7♭5

E half-diminished · E G B♭ D · 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7

  • 7th fret

    Root on the 5th string

    7fr1324EB♭DG

    x7878x

  • 11th fret

    Root on the 6th string

    11fr2341EDGB♭

    12-x-12-12-11-x

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are E, the root.

How to play Em7♭5

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Root on the 5th string · 7th fret

    x7878x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 7th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 8th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 8th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.
    • Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

  2. 2. Root on the 6th string · 11th fret

    12-x-12-12-11-x
    • Put your 1st finger (index) on the 2nd string, 11th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 6th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 12th fret.
    • Put your 4th finger (little) on the 3rd string, 12th fret.
    • Mute the 5th and 1st strings by letting the fingers next to them touch them lightly.

Notes in the Em7♭5 chord

Em7♭5 is E, G, B♭ and D, and it sounds dark and jazzy, the minor key’s ii chord in jazz. From E, count 3 half steps up to G, 3 more to B♭ and 4 more to D. Its formula is 1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with E lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Em7♭5 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Em7♭5

A7x02020Em7♭5 to A7 is iiø7 to V7, the minor key’s ii–V.Fxx3211Em7♭5 is the viiø7 of F: up a half step to home.

More guitar chords

Other chords on E

EEmE7Emaj7Em7Esus2Esus4Eadd9E9E6EdimEdim7Eaug

Half-diminished chords on other notes

Cm7♭5C♯m7♭5Dm7♭5D♯m7♭5Fm7♭5F♯m7♭5Gm7♭5G♯m7♭5Am7♭5A♯m7♭5Bm7♭5

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Em7♭5 on guitar?

The easiest way to play it is on four strings, written x7878x, with no barre. Put your 1st finger (index) on the 5th string, 7th fret. Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 3rd string, 7th fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 8th fret. Put your 4th finger (little) on the 2nd string, 8th fret. Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th. Mute the 1st string by letting a finger next to it touch it lightly.

What notes are in the Em7♭5 chord?

Em7♭5 is E, G, B♭ and D. In the shape written x7878x, the 5th to 2nd strings play E, B♭, D and G.

Is Em7♭5 a barre chord?

No: none of its shapes here needs a barre.

How many ways can you play Em7♭5 on guitar?

This page shows two: x7878x (7th fret) and 12-x-12-12-11-x (11th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Em7♭5?

Yes. “Make a beat in F major” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F major on F C Dm B♭, the key where Em7♭5 is the viiø7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in F major

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F major on F C Dm B♭, the key where Em7♭5 is the viiø7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in F majorAll guitar chords

Keep going