Am7b5 Guitar Chord

Am7b5 is a minor seven flat five (half-diminished) chord. It is a minor chord with a flattened fifth plus a minor seventh, and in minor keys it often comes just before a dominant seventh chord. Its notes are A, C, Eb and G. Below are 2 ways to play it, each with a chord diagram, tab and finger numbers.

Notes in Am7b5

NoteDegreeInterval
ARRoot
Cb3Minor 3rd
Ebb5Diminished 5th
Gb7Minor 7th

Formula: 1–b3–b5–b7

Am7b5 chord shapes

Finger numbers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 pinky. In the tab, x means don't play that string and 0 means play it open. In the diagrams the top line is the 1st (thinnest) string and the nut is on the left.

  • A-shape 1fr

    Easiest
    ✕12✕
    Tab (6th → 1st string)
    x 0 1 0 1 x
    Fingers
    – – 1 – 2 –
  • E-shape 5fr

    5fr1211✕✕
    Tab (6th → 1st string)
    5 6 5 5 x x
    Fingers
    1 2 1 1 – –

How to play Am7b5 (easiest shape)

Shape: A-shape 1fr, tab x 0 1 0 1 x (6th to 1st string).

✕12✕
  1. 1Put your index finger (1) on the 4th string at the 1st fret.
  2. 2Put your middle finger (2) on the 2nd string at the 1st fret.
  3. 3Let the 5th and 3rd strings ring open.
  4. 4Don't play the 6th string.
  5. 5Keep the 1st string quiet: stop your strum at the 2nd string, or let a fretting finger touch it lightly.
  6. 6Strum down from the 5th string to the 2nd string.

Am7b5: common questions

What notes are in the Am7b5 chord?
Am7b5 has 4 notes: A, C, Eb and G. Counted from the root, that is 1–b3–b5–b7.
Is there an easier way to play Am7b5?
The easiest shape on this page is "A-shape 1fr" (x 0 1 0 1 x). It needs no barre: each finger presses just one string.

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