Chords
F M7b5
F · A · Cb · E
F M7b5 (Fmaj7b5) is a major chord of 4 notes: F · A · Cb · E.
Also written FM7b5
F M7b5
F · A · Cb · E
Voicings on the piano
| Voicing | Notes | Play it on your instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Closed, root position | F3 · A3 · Cb3 · E4 | |
| Open (drop 2) | Cb2 · F3 · A3 · E4 | |
| Shell | F3 · A3 · E4 | |
| Rootless | A3 · Cb3 · E4 |
Tap a key or a fret to hear it.
Anatomy
F M7b5 (Fmaj7b5) contains the notes F · A · Cb · E, each with a role measured as an interval from the root.
Read on: how triads are built · seventh chords
Inversions
An inversion of F M7b5 puts a chord tone other than F in the bass; the name after the slash is that bass note.
Where it lives
The keys and the scales F M7b5 belongs to.
In which keys
F M7b5 is diatonic to 2 keys; the numeral is its degree and the label its harmonic function.
Scales that contain it
F M7b5 fits inside these scales, each built on F.
- F LydianF · G · A · B · C · D · E
- F Lydian PentatonicF · A · B · C · E
- F Double Harmonic LydianF · Gb · A · B · C · Db · E
- F Lydian AugmentedF · G · A · B · C# · D · E
- F Leading Whole ToneF · G · A · B · C# · Eb · E
- F PersianF · Gb · A · Bb · Cb · Db · E
- F EnigmaticF · Gb · A · Cb · Db · Eb · E
- F Lydian #9F · G# · A · B · C · D · E
Understanding the F M7b5 chord
Names and symbols
Fmaj7b5 is the chord symbol for F M7b5; it is also written FM7b5.
maj7, M7, Δ7, ma7 and ^7 all mean the major seventh. A lowercase m7 is a different chord, the minor seventh, so the capital letter and the triangle are the only things keeping the two apart on a chart.
Common questions
- What notes are in the F M7b5 chord?
- The F M7b5 chord contains the notes F · A · Cb · E: the root F with the intervals 1P, 3M, 5d, 7M stacked above it. Play them together for the chord or one after another for an arpeggio. The lowest note is normally F, but any chord tone can take the bass in an inversion.
- What intervals make up the F M7b5 chord?
- Measured from F, the F M7b5 chord stacks the intervals 1P, 3M, 5d, 7M. The quality of the third and of the seventh, if there is one, is what gives the chord its character; the rest of the notes colour it. Every interval in the formula links to its own page, with its sound.
- How do I play the F M7b5 chord?
- On guitar the most common F M7b5 shape is 102200, read from the lowest string to the highest; the instrument panel above shows several more with their fingerings. On piano play F3 · A3 · Cb3 · E4 with the right hand, or move the root down into the left hand and keep the rest above it. Every shape on this page plays when you press it.