Em7(b5)13 Half-Diminished

The Em7(b5)13 chord is built from the notes E – G – Bb – D – C#.

Piano sound loads on first tap.

Also known as

Em7b5#13Em7b5(add13)

Chord tones, one by one

ERoot

Root

The fundamental note the chord is built on — E.

GThird

Minor third

Three semitones — makes the chord minor (darker, sadder).

BbFifth

Diminished fifth (♭5)

Six semitones — a flat fifth. Creates instability, typical of m7♭5 and diminished chords.

DSeventh

Minor seventh (♭7)

Ten semitones — the dominant/minor seventh. Adds bluesy tension (7, m7).

C#Extension

Thirteenth (13)

A 13th — full, rich top extension.

🎼 Related scales

Dorian ♯4 (Ukrainian)harmonic minor a perfect 4th below

🎹 Modal analysis

This chord implies the Dorian ♯4 (Ukrainian) scale; its characteristic note is the ♯4 / ♯11 (the Ukrainian color). It is a mode of the harmonic minor a perfect 4th below.

🎸 Genres

Gypsy jazz · Roma music · Klezmer · Classical

m7(b5)13 in every key

More E chords

More E chords from Dorian ♯4 (Ukrainian)