dim7 vs min7b5 Tones

Difficulty: intermediate

dim7 (diminished 7th) chords are constructed with the 1st, b3rd, b5th, and bb7th notes of the major scale. bb7 (double flatted seventh) is enharmonically equivalent to the the 6th note of the major scale.

min7b5 (half-diminished 7th) chords are constructed with the 1st, b3rd, b5th, and b7th notes of the major scale.

Ddim7

b3bb7b5RFb3Bbb7Abb5DR

This Ddim7 chord shape is constructed of 1 (R for root), b3, b5, and bb7.

The half-diminished chord is often used as a two chord in a minor two-five-one progression. Here's a very common example of this sequence, in the key of F minor.

Gmin7b5

b5b3b7RDbb5Bbb3Fb7GR

Here's that same sequence, in the key of C minor. This uses the open Dmin7b5 shape from above.

Dmin7b5

b3b7b5RFb3Cb7Abb5DR

The fully diminished seventh chord is often used for its strong tendency to resolve, due to the dissonance created by the diminished seventh interval. Here's a common sequence to hear this tension and resolution.

D9

59b73RA5E9Cb7F#3DR