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Understanding the half-diminished seventh chord, also known as the minor seven flat five (m7♭5), is essential for guitarists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary. This quick reference chart provides visual and positional guidance for forming these chords across the guitar neck.
What is a Half-Diminished Seventh Chord?
A half-diminished seventh chord consists of a root, a minor third, a diminished fifth, and a minor seventh. It is commonly used in jazz, classical, and modern music to add tension and color to progressions.
Basic Formula
- Root
- Minor third (3 semitones above root)
- Diminished fifth (6 semitones above root)
- Minor seventh (10 semitones above root)
Common Guitar Voicings
Below are some standard shapes for half-diminished chords at various positions on the guitar neck. Each shape can be moved up or down the neck to target different roots.
Position 1: Root on 6th String (E string)
Root on 6th string, 5th fret (A)
Shape:
- 6th string: 5th fret (A)
- 5th string: 4th fret (Eb)
- 4th string: 5th fret (G)
- 3rd string: 4th fret (Bb)
- 2nd string: 4th fret (D)
- 1st string: 4th fret (A)
Position 2: Root on 5th String (A string)
Root on 5th string, 3rd fret (C)
Shape:
- 5th string: 3rd fret (C)
- 4th string: 4th fret (Eb)
- 3rd string: 3rd fret (G)
- 2nd string: 4th fret (Bb)
- 1st string: 3rd fret (D)
Position 3: Root on 4th String (D string)
Root on 4th string, 7th fret (G)
Shape:
- 4th string: 7th fret (G)
- 3rd string: 6th fret (Bb)
- 2nd string: 8th fret (D)
- 1st string: 6th fret (A)
Tips for Practice
Practice these shapes slowly, ensuring correct finger placement and muting unnecessary strings. Use a metronome to build accuracy and speed. Experiment with moving shapes up and down the neck to find your preferred voicings.
Application in Progressions
Half-diminished chords are often used in iiø7-V7-i progressions in jazz and classical music. Recognizing and playing these shapes will enhance your improvisation and composition skills.