Ab m7b5 Guitar Chord | Play, Hear and Practice Interactively
The Ab m7b5 chord belongs to the Diminished Chords family and is built from the notes Ab, Cb, Ebb, and Gb — corresponding to the intervals Root (1), Minor Third (b3), Diminished Fifth (b5), and Minor Seventh (b7). Use the interactive fretboard tool at the top of this page to visualize every fingering, listen to the chord played as a strum or arpeggio, and check your own playing with the real-time microphone feedback — the tool will tell you if you're nailing it.
The m7b5 chord, also known as a half-diminished chord, plays a crucial role in jazz and classical harmony, often appearing in minor ii-V-i progressions. Its unique, slightly dissonant sound comes from its diminished fifth and minor seventh intervals. To truly grasp its harmonic function, explore our guide on Diminished Guitar Chords, and deepen your understanding of how chords are built with our Chord Construction tutorial. Mastering these shapes means smooth transitions, so check out our tips to Improve Chords Change.
Scroll down to discover multiple Ab m7b5 chord diagrams, presented from the easiest open positions to more challenging movable shapes. You'll also find detailed music theory explanations, examples of songs that feature this chord, and the key contexts where it naturally appears. Before you explore the diagrams, take a moment to engage with the interactive tool above — set a comfortable tempo with the drum machine, strum the chord, and let the mic feedback guide your finger placement. This direct, hands-on practice is the quickest way to integrate the Ab m7b5 into your playing.
Ab m7b5 chord Notes:
Formula of the Minor Seventh Flat five chord:
Fingerings for the Ab Minor Seventh Flat five guitar chord
Position 1
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FAQ
What does 'm7b5' signify in the Ab m7b5 chord name?
The 'm7b5' notation indicates the specific intervallic structure of the chord relative to its root. 'm' refers to a minor third, '7' to a minor seventh, and 'b5' to a diminished fifth. Therefore, an Ab m7b5 chord contains a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh above its root, Ab.
What specific notes compose the Ab m7b5 chord?
The Ab m7b5 chord is built from four specific notes: Ab, Cb, Ebb, and Gb. These notes correspond to the root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh intervals respectively, starting from the root note Ab.
How do the intervals 1, b3, b5, and b7 create the unique sound of the Ab m7b5 chord?
These intervals define the chord's characteristic sound. '1' is the Root (Ab), 'b3' is the Minor Third (Cb), 'b5' is the Diminished Fifth (Ebb), and 'b7' is the Minor Seventh (Gb). The combination of the minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh creates a distinct, often tense or ambiguous, quality that sets it apart from other common chord types.
What is the significance of the 'b' and 'bb' in the notes Cb and Ebb within the Ab m7b5 chord?
In music notation, 'b' (flat) lowers a natural note by a half step, while 'bb' (double flat) lowers a natural note by two half steps (a whole step). For the Ab m7b5 chord, Cb is used to establish the minor third interval from Ab, and Ebb is used to establish the diminished fifth interval from Ab, precisely defining these specific intervals.
Why is the Ab m7b5 chord classified as part of the 'Diminished Chords family'?
The Ab m7b5 chord is included in the Diminished Chords family because it features a diminished fifth (b5) interval. This diminished quality is a defining characteristic for chords within this family, distinguishing it from chords that primarily rely on perfect fifths.