CifraLab

Am7b5 Guitar Chord

Am7b5 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/3
Chord shapes:(3 positions)
Am7b5Guitar fingering diagram for Am7b51234×12×STRING6ª×5ªA4ªD#3ªG2ªC1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets Am7b5 apart

The notes of Am7b5 are A, C, Eb and G. A is the root, C the minor third, Eb the flat fifth and G the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are A, C, E flat and G.

String by string, low to high, it plays A, Eb, G and C. It runs from A on string 5 up to C on string 2.

The open strings add notes to Am7b5 too. String 5 gives A and string 3 gives G. Strings 6 and 1 stay silent. Every finger presses at fret 1. This page has three positions. The others start at frets 4 and 12.

Change only string 3 in Am7b5 and you have Adim. Inside Am7b5 sits a complete Cm chord, made of C, Eb and G. F shares one position with this shape.

You will find Am7b5 in two different keys. In Bb major it is the viiø7 and in G minor the iiø7.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704A A - F#m - Bm - E7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Am7b5)

Formula: Half-Diminished (1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

A 1C ♭3Eb ♭5G ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 0 (A)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

3 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Am7b5:

01

Half-diminished

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
○Open
ADegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 1Finger 1
D#
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 1Finger 2
CDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 4th String (D) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 1 with your Middle finger. Play open: 5th String (A), 3rd String (G). Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

02

Barre 5

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 5Finger 2
ADegree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 5Finger 3
GDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 5Finger 4
CDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
Fret 4Finger 1
D#
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 5 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 5 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 5 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 4 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

03

Octave

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 12Finger 1
ADegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 13Finger 3
D#
3rd String (G)
Fret 12Finger 2
GDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 13Finger 4
CDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 12 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 13 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 12 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 13 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Am7b5)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Fretsfret 1
Fretting fingers2
Open5th and 3rd
Muted6th and 1st

What to check

The open 5th and 3rd strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Am7b5

Listen: Am7b5 → F · E7 · C

  1. Am7b5
  2. F
  3. Am7b5
  4. E7
  5. Am7b5
  6. C
Am7b5 → F01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 2, fret 1
Move
  • string 6, fret 1
  • string 5, fret 3
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 2
  • string 1, fret 1
Am7b5 → E702
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 1
Am7b5 → C03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Am7b5 in every key

Am7b5 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
2/5
Highest fret
1
Frets the hand covers
1
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
2

Major keys

Minor keys

Am7b5 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Am7b5)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Am7b5 chord?

To play the Am7b5 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 5 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Am7b5 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Am7b5 chord is its root note: A. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Am7b5 chord and what is its formula?

The Am7b5 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7 formula (Half-Diminished). Its constituent pitches are A, C, Eb, G.

How do you prevent the Am7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Am7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Am7b5 chord diagram

Am7b5 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the A family:

Chord A Chord Ab Chord Am Chord A7 Chord Ab7 Chord Amaj7 Chord Abmaj7 Chord Am7