How to play D7b5: a dominant 7th flat 5 built on D, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is one possible voicing: played at the first few frets. An X above a string means don't play it; an O means play it open.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 5 4 1 1 2 (x = not played).
| Note | D | F# | Ab | C |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b5 | b7 |
D7b5 is a dominant 7th flat 5 with D as its root. The full theoretical spelling is D, F#, Ab, C. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
D7b5 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
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D7b5 is spelled D, F#, Ab, C: the root, 3rd, flat 5th, flat 7th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 5 4 1 1 2 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the G string to the B string (a barre). Add the high E string at the 2nd fret. Add the D string at the 4th fret. Add the A string at the 5th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
D7b5 is not a diatonic chord in any major or minor key: it turns up as a borrowed chord, a passing chord or an altered dominant, which is part of its color.
