Guitar arpeggio

Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 Guitar Arpeggio

Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from Eb, Gb, Bbb, and Db. It is also commonly called Eb Half-Diminished and Ebm7b5. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.

Chord tones
Eb, Gb, Bbb, Db
Formula
1 b3 b5 b7
Semitones
0 3 6 10
Chord symbols
Ebm7b5
Also called
Eb Half-DiminishedEbm7b5

How to read this arpeggio

The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent Eb root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.

Use the interactive fretboard to locate the Eb root notes and connect the remaining minor 7 flat 5 chord tones across standard tuning.

This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called Eb Half-Diminished or Ebm7b5.

Chord construction and defining tones

b3Gb
b5Bbb
b7Db

Eb minor 7 flat 5 is defined by b3 (Gb), b5 (Bbb), and b7 (Db). It extends a diminished triad with a flat seventh, producing the half-diminished chord sound.

Harmonic use

Use this arpeggio over Ebm7b5, commonly as the ii chord in a minor-key ii-V-i progression.

Practice this arpeggio on guitar

  1. Play the Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 arpeggio from one Eb root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
  2. Isolate b3 (Gb), b5 (Bbb), and b7 (Db) in three-note groups, then add the root without losing the flat-fifth sound.
  3. Outline Ebm7b5 and move each available chord tone by step into the following dominant chord.

Fretboard diagram

Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning
Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 Guitar Arpeggio fretboard diagram in standard tuning.

Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool

Start with Eb Minor 7 Flat 5 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.

Open in interactive fretboard

Arpeggio diagrams by tuning