Am7♭5
A Half-Diminished
1 ♭3 ♭5 ♭7

Notes in Am7♭5

AR
C♭3
E♭♭5
G♭7

The Am7♭5 chord contains 4 notes: A, C, E♭, G

Intervals

IntervalSemitonesNoteFunction
R0ARoot
♭33CMinor 3rd
♭56E♭Diminished 5th
♭710GMinor 7th

About A Half-Diminished Chords

Half-diminished chords (minor 7 flat 5) combine a diminished triad with a minor 7th. They serve as the ii chord in minor key ii-V-i progressions, making them essential for jazz musicians. The sound is dark but more stable than fully diminished.

Compatible Scales & Modes

These scales contain all the notes of Am7♭5 and can be used for soloing, improvising, and writing melodies over this chord.

A Locrian
The natural mode for half-diminished chords — every chord tone is a scale tone.
A Locrian ♯2
A common jazz alternative — the natural 2nd adds melodic possibilities.

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