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A minor 7th flat 5th chord on ukulele (Am7♭5)
Also called or written Am7♭5, A or A Half Diminished Minor 7
A minor 7th flat 5th is built from A, C, E♭, and G. The 2nd fret shape keeps all four strings sounding, which demands precise fingertip placement.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7
- Root positionA–C–E♭–GAm7♭58-9-8-10
- First inversionC–E♭–G–AAm7♭5/C12-12-11-12
- Second inversionE♭–G–A–CAm7♭5/E♭2-3-3-3
- Third inversionG–A–C–E♭Am7♭5/G5-7-5-6
How do you play an A minor 7th flat 5th chord on ukulele?
A minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 3 3 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, middle finger on the C string at fret 3, ring finger on the E string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 3.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (1) |
| 3 (C) | 3 | 2 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 3 | 3 | G (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 4 | C (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must fret the A string at fret 3 cleanly while the ring finger holds the E string at the same fret.
Am7♭5/G inversion
A minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 5th fret as 5 7 5 6: index finger on the G string at fret 5, pinky finger on the C string at fret 7, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and ring finger on the A string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 1 | C (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 7 | 4 | G (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (1) |
| 1 (A) | 6 | 3 | E♭ (♭5) |
8th fret
A minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 8th fret as 8 9 8 10: index finger on the G string at fret 8, ring finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 8 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 10.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 8 | 1 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 3 | A (1) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 10 | 4 | G (♭7) |
Am7♭5/C inversion
A minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 12: middle finger on the G string at fret 12, ring finger on the C string at fret 12, index finger on the E string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 12 | 2 | G (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 12 | 3 | C (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 11 | 1 | E♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (1) |
Why it sounds like that
A minor 7th flat 5th uses the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished 5th between A and E♭ gives the chord its tense quality. Compare it to A minor 7th, which raises the ♭5 to a perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with A minor 7th flat 5th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and deaden the A string.
- Pressing the ring finger too far over and muting the C string.
- Strumming before all four fingers are seated, causing a buzz on the E string.
When to use it
A minor 7th flat 5th works as the ii chord in G natural minor, leading to D minor or G minor. Use it in jazz, blues, and ballads where a darker minor sound is needed.
Changing to and from A minor 7th flat 5th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives A♭ minor 7th flat 5th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives B♭ minor 7th flat 5th.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret voicing has A in the bass, giving a root-position sound. For a lighter feel, use the Am7♭5/C inversion with C in the bass.
Other A chords
Common questions
How is A minor 7th flat 5th written?
A minor 7th flat 5th is written as Am7♭5 or A. It is also called Half Diminished Minor 7.
What is the difference between A minor 7th flat 5th and A diminished?
A diminished is a triad with notes A, C, E♭. A minor 7th flat 5th adds the minor 7th G, making it a four-note chord.
Can A minor 7th flat 5th be used in place of A minor?
A minor 7th flat 5th has a flattened fifth, so it sounds more tense than A minor. Use it when you want a darker color.