Guitar arpeggio
Ab Minor 7 Flat 5 Guitar Arpeggio
Ab Minor 7 Flat 5 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from Ab, Cb, Ebb, and Gb. It is also commonly called Ab Half-Diminished and Abm7b5. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Chord tones
- Ab, Cb, Ebb, Gb
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5 b7
- Semitones
- 0 3 6 10
- Chord symbols
- Abm7b5
- Also called
- Ab Half-DiminishedAbm7b5
How to read this arpeggio
The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent Ab root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the Ab root notes and connect the remaining minor 7 flat 5 chord tones across standard tuning.
This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called Ab Half-Diminished or Abm7b5.
Chord construction and defining tones
Ab minor 7 flat 5 is defined by b3 (Cb), b5 (Ebb), and b7 (Gb). It extends a diminished triad with a flat seventh, producing the half-diminished chord sound.
Harmonic use
Use this arpeggio over Abm7b5, commonly as the ii chord in a minor-key ii-V-i progression.
Practice this arpeggio on guitar
- Play the Ab Minor 7 Flat 5 arpeggio from one Ab root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
- Isolate b3 (Cb), b5 (Ebb), and b7 (Gb) in three-note groups, then add the root without losing the flat-fifth sound.
- Outline Abm7b5 and move each available chord tone by step into the following dominant chord.
Fretboard diagram
Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool
Start with Ab Minor 7 Flat 5 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboard