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Em7b5 Guitar Chord

Em7b5 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
Em7b5Guitar fingering diagram for Em7b51234124STRING6ªE5ªA#4ªE3ªG2ªD1ªE
View HD sheet

What sets Em7b5 apart

Em7b5 is built from E, G, Bb and D. E is the root, G the minor third, Bb the flat fifth and D the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are E, G, B flat and D.

String by string, low to high, it plays E, Bb, E, G, D and E. E rings three times across the six strings, and it is the root. The lowest and highest notes are both E, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.

The open strings add notes to Em7b5 too. String 6 gives E, string 3 gives G and string 1 gives E. Your hand covers three frets, from 1 to 3. There is one more position, starting at fret 7.

Em is very close. You only move strings 5 and 2. Inside Em7b5 sits a complete Gm chord, made of G, Bb and D. Moving to C, you keep one finger down.

Em7b5 shows up in two keys. In F major it is the viiø7 and in D 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 (Em7b5)

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

E 1G ♭3Bb ♭5D ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)

String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Em7b5:

01

Standard

Standard Position
6 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
○Open
EDegree 1
5th String (A)
Fret 1Finger 1
A#
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 2
EDegree 1
3rd String (G)
○Open
GDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
Fret 3Finger 4
DDegree ♭7
1st String (High E)
○Open
EDegree 1

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 3 with your Pinky finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 3rd String (G), 1st String (High E).

02

Fret 7

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 7Finger 1
EDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 8Finger 3
A#
3rd String (G)
Fret 7Finger 2
DDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 4
GDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 7 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 8 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 7 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 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 (Em7b5)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 3
Fretting fingers3
Open6th, 3rd, and 1st
Mutednone

What to check

The open 6th, 3rd, and 1st strings sit next to a fretting finger.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Em7b5

Listen: Em7b5 → Em · C · Am

  1. Em7b5
  2. Em
  3. Em7b5
  4. C
  5. Em7b5
  6. Am
Em7b5 → Em01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 1: string 5, fret 2
Em7b5 → C02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 5, fret 3
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1
Em7b5 → Am03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 2: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 3: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 2, fret 1

Em7b5 in every key

Em7b5 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
1/5
Highest fret
3
Frets the hand covers
3
Barre
No
Strings that ring
6/6
Fretting fingers
3

Major keys

Minor keys

Em7b5 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 (Em7b5)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Em7b5 chord?

To play the Em7b5 chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.

What is the root bass note of the Em7b5 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Em7b5 chord is its root note: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Em7b5 chord and what is its formula?

The Em7b5 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7 formula (Half-Diminished). Its constituent pitches are E, G, Bb, D.

How do you prevent the Em7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Em7b5 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 Em7b5 chord diagram

Em7b5 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the E family:

Chord E Chord Eb Chord Em Chord Ebm Chord E7 Chord Eb7 Chord Emaj7 Chord Ebmaj7