A half-diminished (Am7b5) chord on banjo

Looking for the Am7b5 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.

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 7medium

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What the Am7b5 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 Am7b5 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 5, ring finger (G4)
String 2 (B): fret 4, index finger (E♭4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, middle finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 7, little finger (A3)

Position 7

String 1 (D): fret 10, little finger (C5)
String 2 (B): fret 8, ring finger (G4)
String 3 (G): fret 8, middle finger (E♭4)
String 4 (D): fret 7, index finger (A3)

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.

Which keys is it in?

The Am7b5 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

B♭ major: viiø7
G minor: iiø7

Similar chords and substitutes

If Am7b5 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

F9 – a rootless dominant ninth: the same notes over a root a major third lower
D7 – the next chord in a minor ii–V–i (V)

Same notes

Cm6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Adim – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Am7b5 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 Am7b5 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 2 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 Am7b5 chord written?

The chord symbol is Am7b5, and its full name is A half-diminished.