How to play F7b5: a dominant 7th flat 5 built on F, with 1 voicing, the notes, the keys it belongs to, and songs that use it.
The first diagram is a common 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: 1 2 1 2 x x (x = not played).
| Note | F | A | Cb | Eb |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | R | 3 | b5 | b7 |
F7b5 is a dominant 7th flat 5 with F as its root. The full theoretical spelling is F, A, Cb, Eb. This voicing sounds every chord tone.
F7b5 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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F7b5 is spelled F, A, Cb, Eb: 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: 1 2 1 2 x x (x means the string is not played). Lay your index finger across the 1st fret from the low E string to the D string (a barre). Add the A and G strings at the 2nd fret. Strum from the low E string down, skipping the B and high E strings.
F7b5 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.