F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)

Chord Tones: F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)

Symbol: ø7, m7♭5 — Formula: 1-♭3-♭5-♭7

DegreeNoteFrequency (A=440, Equal)
1 F 349.228 Hz
♭3 Ab 415.305 Hz
♭5 B 493.883 Hz
♭7 Eb 311.127 Hz

Chord Notation

Notation TypeSymbol / Value
Lead Sheet SymbolFø7
All Common Symbolsø7, m7♭5
Interval Formula1-♭3-♭5-♭7
Harmonic Categorydissonant

Roman numeral (e.g. I, IV, V) and Nashville Number notation are key-dependent. See Keys pages for chord function within specific keys.

Inversions

InversionNotes (low to high)Bass NoteSlash Notation
Root Position F Ab B Eb F F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)
First Inversion Ab B Eb F Ab F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)/Ab
Second Inversion B Eb F Ab B F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)/B
Third Inversion Eb F Ab B Eb F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)/Eb

Harmonic Function

The F half diminished chord commonly functions as the subdominant (IV) in C major — plagal cadence endpoint. Its harmonic role varies by key — in major keys it provides stable harmonic grounding.

The half-diminished chord (minor seven flat five) combines a diminished triad with a minor seventh. It is the ii chord in minor keys and an essential sound in jazz and classical harmony.

Common Progressions

The F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5) frequently appears in these progression patterns (shown in Roman numeral notation relative to key):

Songs Featuring the Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)

Well-known songs where the F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5) — or this chord type — plays a prominent role:

Tuning Frequencies Across Temperaments

Frequencies shown at A=440 Hz. View full temperament data for any note.

NoteEqual Temp.PythagoreanJust Intonation
F 349.228 Hz 347.654 Hz 348.834 Hz
Ab 415.305 Hz 417.657 Hz 418.601 Hz
B 493.883 Hz 495.000 Hz 490.548 Hz
Eb 311.127 Hz 309.026 Hz 313.951 Hz

Scales Containing the F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5)

These scales include the F Half-Diminished Seventh (Minor 7♭5) as a diatonic or characteristic chord: