E seventh, flat fifth
How to play E7♭5 — Seventh, flat fifth
E7♭5 (Seventh, flat fifth)E · G♯ · B♭ · D
Guitar samples: Acoustic guitar — University of Iowa (via tonejs-instruments, CC-BY 3.0)
E seventh, flat fifth — notes and structure
The E7♭5 chord is a dominant seventh with a lowered fifth — tense and altered.
The E7♭5 seventh, flat fifth consists of the notes E, G♯, B♭, D. Its interval structure is R–3–5–7 — the root, then each chord tone stacked above it. This is the same chord you see in the interactive finder above, drawn on the guitar fretboard with the root circled and every chord tone labelled.
E7♭5 stacks a major third (G♯), a diminished fifth (B♭) and a minor seventh (D) above the root E.
The finder shows 2 ways to play E7♭5 — an open-position shape reaching up to the 7th fret. None of them need a barre.
Frequently asked questions
- What notes are in the E seventh, flat fifth chord?
- The E7♭5 chord contains the notes E, G♯, B♭, D. It is a dominant seventh with a lowered fifth — tense and altered.
- How many ways can you play E7♭5 on guitar?
- 2 voicings are shown on this page — from open position up the neck — each with its own fingering diagram and audio.
- Is E7♭5 a hard chord to play?
- It is fairly beginner-friendly — there is an open-position shape and none of the voicings need a barre.