Also written E7♭5, E or E Dominant 7th Flat 5
E 7th flat 5 contains E, G♯, B♭, and D. This advanced ukulele chord uses an open E string and a wide stretch across the first two frets.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
E 7th flat 5 is built from the formula 1, 3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished 5th between E and B♭ gives the chord its tense, unstable quality. Compare it to E 7th, which has a perfect 5th instead.
E 7th flat 5 works as a tense dominant in jazz and blues, often resolving to A major. Use it in a ii–V–I in A major: Bm7–E7♭5–Amaj7. It also fits funk and fusion lines where the ♭5 adds bite.
The default E7♭5/D inversion puts D in the bass, giving a lighter, more open sound. For a darker, root-position voicing, use the 3rd fret shape with E in the bass.
E 7th flat 5 is played in open position as 1 2 0 1: index finger on the G string at fret 1, ring finger on the C string at fret 2 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1. The E string rings open.
Tip — The wide stretch between the index on G1 and ring on C2 while keeping the open E string clear is the hardest part.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 1 | 1 | G♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | open | — | E (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
E 7th flat 5 is played at the 3rd fret as 3 4 4 5: index finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the C string at fret 4, ring finger on the E string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 4 | 2 | E (1) |
| 2 (E) | 4 | 3 | G♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (♭7) |
E 7th flat 5 is played at the 6th fret as 7 8 6 7: middle finger on the G string at fret 7, pinky finger on the C string at fret 8, index finger on the E string at fret 6 and ring finger on the A string at fret 7.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 2 | D (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 8 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 7 | 3 | E (1) |
E 7th flat 5 is played at the 9th fret as 9 10 10 11: index finger on the G string at fret 9, middle finger on the C string at fret 10, ring finger on the E string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 11.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 9 | 1 | E (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 2 | B♭ (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 3 | D (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 11 | 4 | G♯ (3) |
E 7th flat 5 has a diminished 5th (B♭) instead of the perfect 5th (B) in E 7th. This single change makes the chord sound more dissonant and unstable.
Yes, the default voicing uses an open E string. That open string is a chord tone (D), so it fits the harmony and keeps the voicing bright.
The E altered scale and E acoustic scale both contain the ♭5 and ♭7. The E blues diminished scale also works for a bluesier sound.