A half-diminished chord on piano
Am7♭5 · Aø7 — a diminished triad with a minor seventh: the ii chord of a minor key.
| Notes | A – C – E♭ – G |
|---|---|
| Formula | 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 |
| Symbols | Am7♭5, Aø7 |
| Fingering (root position) | Right hand 1 2 3 5 · Left hand 5 3 2 1 |
How to play A half-diminished on the piano
Start on A. Add C, E♭, G. With the right hand use fingers 1 2 3 5; with the left hand 5 3 2 1. Press the keys together for the chord, or one after another for an arpeggio.
Inversions
The same notes in a different order: the lowest note changes, the chord stays A half-diminished. Inversions let you move between chords with small steps.
Root position
A – C – E♭ – G · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
1st inversion
C – E♭ – G – A · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
2nd inversion
E♭ – G – A – C · RH 1 2 4 5 · LH 5 3 2 1
3rd inversion
G – A – C – E♭ · RH 1 2 3 5 · LH 5 4 2 1
Which keys use A half-diminished
In these keys the chord is built from the notes of the scale itself:
Other A chords
A majorA minorA diminishedA augmentedA sus2A sus4A6A7A major seventhA minor seventhA diminished seventh
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