E half-diminished (Em7b5) chord on mandolin

The E half-diminished chord (Em7b5) is a half-diminished seventh chord (a diminished triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: E – G – B♭ – D.

Dots show:

Basic shapeeasy

Position 3easy

Position 5medium

Position 8medium

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What the Em7b5 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 Em7b5 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): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 1, index finger (B♭4)
String 3 (D): open (D4)
String 4 (G): open (G3)

Position 3

String 1 (E): open (E5)
String 2 (A): fret 5, little finger (D5)
String 3 (D): fret 5, ring finger (G4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, index finger (B♭3)

Position 5

String 1 (E): fret 6, middle finger (B♭5)
String 2 (A): fret 7, little finger (E5)
String 3 (D): fret 5, index finger (G4)
String 4 (G): fret 7, ring finger (D4)

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.

Which keys is it in?

The Em7b5 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F major: viiø7
D minor: iiø7

Similar chords and substitutes

If Em7b5 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

C9 – a rootless dominant ninth: the same notes over a root a major third lower
A7 – the next chord in a minor ii–V–i (V)

Same notes

Gm6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

Edim – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the Em7b5 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 Em7b5 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”, 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 Em7b5 chord written?

The chord symbol is Em7b5, and its full name is E half-diminished.