The Ab half-diminished / G# half-diminished chord (Abm7b5) is made of the notes Ab, Cb, D and Gb. It is built from the root Ab with a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh.
The half-diminished chord (m7b5) is the second-degree chord of minor keys; very common in jazz.
Ab half-diminished
Notes: Ab – Cb – D – Gb
Guitar — positions on the neck
Piano — root position and inversions
Fingerings and positions
On guitar, this chord can be played in 3 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): 4544xx. On piano, the right hand plays 4 notes, in root position or in an inversion.
Notes and intervals
Note
Interval
Ab
root
Cb
minor third
D
diminished fifth
Gb
minor seventh
In which keys? The Ab half-diminished chord is the viiø7 of A major and the iiø7 of F# minor.
What are the notes of the Ab half-diminished chord?
The notes of the Ab half-diminished chord (Abm7b5) are Ab, Cb, D and Gb.
How do you play the Ab half-diminished chord on guitar?
On guitar, this chord can be played in 3 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): 4544xx.
How is the Ab half-diminished chord built?
The Ab half-diminished / G# half-diminished chord (Abm7b5) is made of the notes Ab, Cb, D and Gb. It is built from the root Ab with a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh.
Are Ab and G# the same chord?
Yes: Ab and G# are the same note (they are called enharmonic), so Ab half-diminished / G# half-diminished is played exactly the same way, with the same fingerings.