E♭ half-diminished (E♭m7b5) chord on mandolin

The E♭ half-diminished chord (E♭m7b5) is a half-diminished seventh chord (a diminished triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: E♭ – G♭ – B𝄫 – D♭. The same chord with a different spelling: D♯ half-diminished (D♯m7b5).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 7medium

Position 11easy

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

Chord finder Transposer Tuner

What the E♭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 E♭m7b5 chord

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

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

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

Position 4

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

Position 7

String 1 (E): fret 9, little finger (D♭6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, ring finger (G♭5)
String 3 (D): fret 7, index finger (B𝄫4)
String 4 (G): fret 8, middle finger (E♭4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

B9 – a rootless dominant ninth: the same notes over a root a major third lower
A♭7 – the next chord in a minor ii–V–i (V)

Same notes

F♯m6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

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

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the E♭m7b5 chord?

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

What is the easiest way to play E♭m7b5 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Position 11”, 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 E♭m7b5 chord written?

The chord symbol is E♭m7b5 (also written Ebm7b5), and its full name is E♭ half-diminished.