Em7♭5 chord
Em7♭5 is E, G, B♭ and D: 1–♭3–♭5–♭7 built on E. Here it is on guitar, piano and ukulele. Tap Play on any of them.
On guitar
0-1-0-0-3-0 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G · B♭ · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 0-1-0-0-3-0
Em7♭5 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · E–G–B♭–D · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- E · G · B♭ · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Em7♭5 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
0-2-0-1 · open · easy
- Notes
- E · G · B♭ · D
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 0-2-0-1
Where Em7♭5 usually goes next
Three changes cover most of what Em7♭5 does in songs.
- Em7♭5 → A7 (the iiø7 of a minor key heads to V7)
Guitar: Em7♭5 (0-1-0-0-3-0) to A7 (x-0-2-0-2-0): your index finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the B string, 2nd fret. The two chords share E and G, which is why the change sounds smooth.
Piano: Em7♭5 to A7: play A7 in 2nd inversion (E–G–A–C♯) and E and G stay under the same fingers, while B♭ moves down to A and D down to C♯. A7 - Em7♭5 → Fmaj7 (I in F major)
Guitar: Em7♭5 (0-1-0-0-3-0) to Fmaj7 (x-x-3-2-1-0): the index finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, the middle finger goes to the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the D string, 3rd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E carries over from one chord to the other.
Piano: Em7♭5 to Fmaj7: play Fmaj7 in 3rd inversion (E–F–A–C) and E stays under the same finger, while G moves down to F, B♭ down to A and D down to C. Fmaj7 - Em7♭5 → Am7 (iii in F major)
Guitar: Em7♭5 (0-1-0-0-3-0) to Am7 (x-0-2-0-1-0): the index finger goes to the B string, 1st fret, your middle finger lands on the D string, 2nd fret. Listen for E and G, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Em7♭5 to Am7: play Am7 in 2nd inversion (E–G–A–C) and E and G stay under the same fingers, while B♭ moves down to A and D down to C. Am7
How Em7♭5 is built
Em7♭5 is a half-diminished chord (minor seventh flat five). It is the natural ii chord of a minor key: Em7♭5 is ii in D minor, where it leads to A7 and then home.
From E, go 3 half steps up to G, 3 half steps up to B♭ then 4 half steps up to D.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | root | 0 | |
| G | minor third | 3 | |
| B♭ | diminished fifth | 6 | |
| D | minor seventh | 10 |
Keys and progressions with Em7♭5
You'll find Em7♭5 as viiø7 in F major. On the minor side it's iiø7 in D minor.
Chords close to Em7♭5
- Em7♭5 and Em7 differ by one note: B♭ in Em7♭5, B in Em7. They share E, G and D. Em7
Chords that share most of their notes with Em7♭5: Gm6, C9, Edim, Gm, C7, Cadd9.
Every E chord
Em7♭5 chord: questions
What notes are in the Em7♭5 chord?
E, G, B♭ and D. Em7♭5 is built 1–♭3–♭5–♭7 from E: G is the minor third, B♭ is the diminished fifth and D is the minor seventh.
How do you play Em7♭5 on guitar?
The usual shape is 0-1-0-0-3-0 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Em7♭5 on piano?
Play E, G, B♭ and D with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. E sits just right of the pair of black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Em7♭5 on ukulele?
0-2-0-1 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Em7♭5 in?
You'll find Em7♭5 as viiø7 in F major. On the minor side it's iiø7 in D minor.
What's the difference between Em7♭5 and Em7?
Em7♭5 and Em7 differ by one note: B♭ in Em7♭5, B in Em7. They share E, G and D.
Every diagram on this page is generated from the notes E, G, B♭ and D and checked automatically so the sound matches the drawing. Updated September 2026.