Chord

E♭ Half-diminished 7 Chord

E♭G♭B𝄫D♭
View on: Theory PianoGuitarUkuleleMandolin

Interactive keyboard

Highlighted notes form this chord.

Notes

E♭ · G♭ · B𝄫 · D♭

Root: E♭

Intervals

1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7

How it is built

This chord starts on E♭ and applies the intervals 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The result contains 4 distinct pitch classes per octave.

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Guide and musical context

About E♭ Half-diminished 7 Chord

E♭ Half-diminished 7 Chord contains E♭, G♭, B𝄫, D♭. Its sound is dark and unstable, but less symmetrical than a fully diminished seventh.

Character and sound

Dark and unstable, but less symmetrical than a fully diminished seventh.

Musical context and history

The half-diminished seventh is especially important as iiø7 in minor keys and is also common in jazz and advanced tonal repertoire.

How and where it is used

It often prepares a dominant in minor and can also serve as a modal or passing sonority.

In Theory view you can hear the pitch collection without depending on a specific fingering. Then switch to Piano, Guitar, Ukulele or Mandolin to see how the same notes are physically distributed on each instrument.

Harmonic and musical relationships

Compare this chord with other variants sharing the root E♭. Changing a single third, fifth, seventh or extension makes it easy to hear which interval defines the chord’s character.

The formula on this page is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 and, from E♭, produces the notes E♭ · G♭ · B𝄫 · D♭.

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭ Half-diminished 7 Chord?

The notes are E♭, G♭, B𝄫, D♭.

What is its interval formula?

The formula is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7.

How does it sound and what is it used for?

Dark and unstable, but less symmetrical than a fully diminished seventh. It often prepares a dominant in minor and can also serve as a modal or passing sonority.

Can I view it on a specific instrument?

Yes. Use the selector near the top to switch between Piano, Guitar, Ukulele and Mandolin without changing the musical combination you are studying.