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A Half-Diminished 7th Chord
The A Half-Diminished 7th Chord is A, C, E-flat, and G. It's a diminished chord with a G on top, and that G takes the edge off the tension, so the chord sounds more wistful than harsh. The E-flat is the only black key, under the third finger in root position, so let's keep that finger slightly forward while the others stay out on the white keys.
How to play the A Half-Diminished 7th Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the A Half-Diminished 7th Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the A half-diminished 7th chord are stacked in thirds with A on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A C E♭ G |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | Am7♭5 or Aø7 |
The A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (C) becomes the bottom note, and the root (A) jumps up to the top.
| A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C E♭ G A |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 4 5 |
| Chord Symbol | Aø6/5 or Am7♭5/C |
The A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (E♭) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (C) goes to the top.
| A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | E♭ G A C |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | Aø4/3 or Am7♭5/E♭ |
The A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in third inversion
In third inversion, the seventh of the chord (G) is on the bottom, and the fifth of the chord (E♭) goes to the top.
| A Half-Diminished 7th Chord in 3rd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | G A C E♭ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 4 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | Aø4/2 or Am7♭5/G |
A Half-Diminished 7th Chord theory and function
The half-diminished 7th is a diminished triad with a minor seventh, and it is a softer kind of tension than the fully diminished chord. It is the ii chord of minor keys and the vii chord of major keys, and it usually leads to a dominant.
The A half-diminished 7th chord is the leading-tone chord (viiø7) in B♭ major. In minor keys, it is the supertonic (iiø7) in G minor.
The pattern to know is ii – V – i in a minor key. In G minor that is Aø7 – D7 – Gm. The notes are also a minor 6th chord in inversion: Aø7 contains the same four notes as Cm6, which is why theory books sometimes describe it as a minor triad with an added sixth. Try playing Aø7 and then A°7: the two chords differ by a single note, and it is worth hearing how much that one half step changes.
Other chords built on A
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