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Em7♭5 chord

Em7♭5 (E half-diminished) is E, G, B♭ and D. It sounds dark and jazzy, the minor key’s ii chord in jazz.

Em7♭5

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

EGDB♭

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Tap keys on the piano to find which chord they make. The editor opens without an account.

Notes in the Em7♭5 chord

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: each number is the note’s place in the E major scale, with ♭ a half step lower and ♯ a half step higher. On the piano it is three white keys and one black key (B♭).

The notes of Em7♭5 and their intervals from E
NoteFormulaIntervalHalf steps up
E1Root0
G♭3Minor third3
B♭♭5Diminished fifth6
D♭7Minor seventh10

Em7♭5 chord inversions

An inversion is the same chord with another of its notes at the bottom. It keeps the chord’s sound but moves your hand less between chords, which is why pianists use them all the time. The notes are listed lowest first.

Root position

E G B♭ D

Written Em7♭5, with the root at the bottom.

1st inversion

G B♭ D E

Written Em7♭5/G: G at the bottom.

2nd inversion

B♭ D E G

Written Em7♭5/B♭: B♭ at the bottom.

3rd inversion

D E G B♭

Written Em7♭5/D: D at the bottom.

Keys with the Em7♭5 chord

Em7♭5 is built from the notes of these keys, so it fits songs in them. The Roman numeral says which note of the key it starts on. Each key’s page has its scale and all its chords.

Major keys
Minor keys

Chords that often come after Em7♭5

A7A C♯ E GEm7♭5 to A7 is iiø7 to V7, the minor key’s ii–V.FF A CEm7♭5 is the viiø7 of F: up a half step to home.

More piano 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 piano chords chart.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Em7♭5 chord?

Em7♭5 is E, G, B♭ and D. On the piano that is three white keys and one black key (B♭).

How do you play Em7♭5 on the piano?

With your right hand, play E, G, B♭ and D with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5 (thumb to little finger). With your left hand it is 5, 3, 2 and 1. From E, count 3 half steps up to G, 3 more to B♭ and 4 more to D.

What are the inversions of Em7♭5?

Root position: E G B♭ D. 1st inversion: G B♭ D E (Em7♭5/G). 2nd inversion: B♭ D E G (Em7♭5/B♭). 3rd inversion: D E G B♭ (Em7♭5/D). The notes are the same; only the lowest one changes.

What key is Em7♭5 in?

In major keys, Em7♭5 is the viiø7 chord in F major. In minor keys, it is the iiø7 chord in D minor.

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 piano chords

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