ø7

Sevenths · Chord Type

Half Diminished Chord

Also called min7♭5. The ii° in minor key ii-V-I progressions.

0 st3 st6 st10 st

How to Hear It

A diminished triad with a minor seventh — less harsh than fully diminished. Dark and melancholic, the ii chord in minor keys.

Hear the Half Diminished Chord

Famous Examples

  • Autumn Leaves — iiø7 in minor
  • Sophisticated Lady — Ellington

Half Diminished in All 12 Keys

Related Sevenths

About the Half Diminished Chord

Built from the semitone intervals 0, 3, 6, 10 from the root, the half diminished chord belongs to the sevenths family and appears across virtually every genre of music.

To train your ear to recognise the half diminished chord instantly, practice hearing it in all 12 keys. Use the links above to target specific roots, or open the full recognition trainer.