How to play E7b9b5: a dominant 7th flat 9 flat 5 built on E, 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 3rd fret. 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 7 3 3 3 4 (x = not played).
| Note | E | G# | Bb | D | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b5 | b7 | b9 |
E7b9b5 is a dominant 7th flat 9 flat 5 with E as its root. The full theoretical spelling is E, G#, Bb, D, F. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
E7b9b5 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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E7b9b5 is spelled E, G#, Bb, D, F: the root, 3rd, flat 5th, flat 7th, flat 9th. The common guitar voicing sounds every one of them.
Frets from the low E string to the high E string: x 7 3 3 3 4 (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 3rd fret from the D string to the B string (a barre). Add the high E string at the 4th fret. Add the A string at the 7th fret. Strum from the A string down; the low E string stays silent.
E7b9b5 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.
