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Chord chart for Em7♭5 Guitar Chord (E minor 7th flat 5): Notes, Shapes & How to Play | Guitar Wiz

E minor 7th flat 5 guitar shapes

Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions

Showing 8 of 249 playable shapes

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E minor 7th flat 5 guitar chord diagram showing fretboard positions

About the chord

E minor 7th flat 5 guitar chord

Em7♭5 is the E minor 7th flat 5 guitar chord. It uses the notes E, G, B♭, and D and the interval formula 1-♭3-♭5-♭7.

The E minor 7th flat 5 minor 7th flat 5 chord, also known as half-diminished, combines the diminished triad with a minor seventh D, producing a haunting, unresolved tension. It is essential in jazz harmony for its sophisticated, somber sound.

Also written as Emin7(♭5) and Em7(♭5).

Root note: E
Quality: minor 7th flat 5
Chord tones: 4
Playable shapes: 249

Chord tones

EGB♭D

Common guitar voicings

These are quick-start shapes for players who want the answer first and the deeper theory second.

Shape 010030

010030

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fourth, third, and first strings ring open.
  4. 4 Strum from the 6th string down.

Shape 012030

012030

View shape
  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string.
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string.
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string.
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open.
  5. 5 Strum from the 6th string down.

Notes & Intervals

Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.

E Unison (Root) 1

The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.

G Minor Third ♭3

This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.

B♭ Diminished Fifth ♭5

The flattened fifth adds tension and a restless, unstable edge.

D Minor Seventh ♭7

The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.

Shape details

Every shape is shown with its diagram and exact fingering instructions.

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 010030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Let the sixth, fourth, third, and first strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 012030

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, third, and first strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 010033

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  3. 3 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  4. 4 Let the sixth, fourth, and third strings ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 012033

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and third strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 010333

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string
  4. 4 Place the 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string
  5. 5 Let the sixth and fourth strings ring open
  6. 6 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 012333

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  3. 3 Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
  4. 4 Let the sixth string ring open
  5. 5 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape xx2333

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string
  2. 2 Place the 2nd finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
  3. 3 Do not play the sixth and fifth strings
  4. 4 Strum from the fourth string down to the first string

E minor 7th flat 5 shape 050333

How to play this shape

  1. 1 Place the 1st finger on the 3rd fret of the 1st string, 2nd string, and 3rd string in barre position
  2. 2 Place the 3rd finger on the 5th fret of the 5th string
  3. 3 Let the sixth and fourth strings ring open
  4. 4 Strum from the sixth string down to the first string

Quick answers

What notes are in Em7♭5?

Em7♭5 uses the notes E, G, B♭, and D. Its interval formula is 1-♭3-♭5-♭7.

What is another name for Em7♭5?

Em7♭5 is also written as Emin7(♭5) and Em7(♭5).

How do you play Em7♭5 on guitar?

Place the 1st finger on the 1st fret of the 5th string. Place the 3rd finger on the 3rd fret of the 2nd string. Let the sixth, fourth, third, and first strings ring open. Strum from the 6th string down.

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