A♭ half-diminished (A♭m7b5) chord on banjo

Looking for the A♭m7b5 chord on banjo? It is a half-diminished seventh chord (a diminished triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: A♭ – C♭ – E𝄫 – G♭. The same chord with a different spelling: G♯ half-diminished (G♯m7b5).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 3medium

Position 6medium

Position 9easy

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the A♭m7b5 chord sounds like

The half-diminished (m7b5) chord is a diminished triad with a minor seventh. In a minor key it sits on degree ii – the first chord of the minor ii–V–i.

Notes of the A♭m7b5 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	A♭	root
3	C♭	minor third (3 semitones)
5	E𝄫	diminished fifth (6 semitones)
7	G♭	minor seventh (10 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 4, little finger (G♭4)
String 2 (B): open (C♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 1, index finger (A♭3)
String 4 (D): open (E𝄫3)

Position 3

String 1 (D): fret 4, ring finger (G♭4)
String 2 (B): fret 3, index finger (E𝄫4)
String 3 (G): fret 4, middle finger (C♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 6, little finger (A♭3)

Position 6

String 1 (D): fret 9, little finger (C♭5)
String 2 (B): fret 7, ring finger (G♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 7, middle finger (E𝄫4)
String 4 (D): fret 6, index finger (A♭3)

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Similar chords and substitutes

If A♭m7b5 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

E9 – a rootless dominant ninth: the same notes over a root a major third lower
C♯7 – the next chord in a minor ii–V–i (V)

Same notes

Bm6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

A♭dim – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the A♭m7b5 chord?

A♭, C♭, E𝄫, G♭. The root is A♭; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.

What is the easiest way to play A♭m7b5 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Position 9”, rated easy. We show 4 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the A♭m7b5 chord written?

The chord symbol is A♭m7b5 (also written Abm7b5), and its full name is A♭ half-diminished.