Cavaquinho · Half-diminished chord

Em7b5 Half-diminished

Key: F Major
Medium

Em7b5 is the E half-diminished chord on cavaquinho, made of the notes E · A# · D · G.

Position 1 of 2Main

Notes

E
A#
D
G

Structure

1
♭3
♭5
♭7

Sound: Half-diminished (m7♭5); Dark, jazzy
Harmonic function: Dominant; Creates tension that resolves to the tonic.

Harmonic field of F Major

Degree	Chord	Function
I	F	Tonic
ii	Gm	Subdominant
iii	Am	Tonic relative
IV	A#	Subdominant
V	C	Dominant
vi	Dm	Tonic relative
vii°	Edim	Dominant

How to play

1Place your index finger on fret 2 of string 4.
2Place your middle finger on fret 3 of string 3.
3Place your ring finger on fret 3 of string 2.
4Place your pinky on fret 5 of string 1.
5Strum all the strings.