seventh flat five chord generator
Build and Listen to Seventh Flat Five Chords
A dominant seventh flat five has a major third, diminished fifth and minor seventh. C7(flat5) contains C, E, G-flat and B-flat. E distinguishes this dominant alteration from the half-diminished chord Cm7(flat5).
Play C7(flat5), then compare C half-diminished. Only E changes to E-flat, making the third the decisive quality difference. Select F-sharp and verify the theoretical C natural fifth spelling rather than treating it as B-sharp.
Play the instrument ↑- Chord formula
- 1 · 3 · ♭5 · ♭7
- Semitone offsets
- 0 · 4 · 6 · 10
- C reference
- C · E · G♭ · B♭
- Sound
- Sine reference · A4 = 440 Hz
Major third with a lowered fifth
A dominant seventh flat five has a major third, diminished fifth and minor seventh. C7(flat5) contains C, E, G-flat and B-flat. E distinguishes this dominant alteration from the half-diminished chord Cm7(flat5).
C7(flat5) is not C diminished seventh, and it is not Cm7(flat5). A flat fifth and sharp eleventh share a pitch class in equal temperament but have different degree spelling and can imply different retained chord members.
- Degree 1 is 0 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 3 is 4 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 5 is 6 semitones above the root in this reference.
- Degree 7 is 10 semitones above the root in this reference.
A listening test for 7(♭5)
Play C7(flat5), then compare C half-diminished. Only E changes to E-flat, making the third the decisive quality difference. Select F-sharp and verify the theoretical C natural fifth spelling rather than treating it as B-sharp.
The Compare half-diminished button retains your chosen root and octave and plays the comparison in root position. Set the current chord to root position for a direct comparison. The note buttons let you isolate the chord member that makes this quality different.
Follow the selected bass through each voicing
This 4-tone reference offers 4 positions. Root position starts with degree 1; First inversion starts with degree 3; Second inversion starts with degree 5; Third inversion starts with degree 7. The bass suffix beneath the chord symbol identifies the actual lowest tone.
Changing voicing raises the notes before the selected bass by an octave. The pitch classes and chord quality remain the same; only the register and bass change.
A lowered fifth can introduce chromatic tension in a dominant chord. Listen to G-flat resolving down to F in a possible C-to-F context. The tool calculates and auditions this collection; it does not infer a key or automatic substitution.
Check C, F and A before transposing further
Begin with C and confirm C · E · G♭ · B♭. Use the F and A example buttons to transpose the same interval collection. Follow the MIDI values if an enharmonic spelling looks unfamiliar: changing the root shifts every sounding note by the same interval.
Use Root octave 2 for a lower reference or octave 5 for a higher one. A root change keeps your selected voicing; the example buttons return to root position. Reset restores C, octave 3 and root position. Stop sound ends the currently active chord or arpeggio.
What playback and the WAV file contain
The displayed notes are synthesized locally using sine waves after your click. The tool does not create a progression, transcribe a song, provide guitar fingering or simulate an acoustic instrument. No camera, microphone, registration or file upload is needed.
Download WAV saves the currently displayed voicing as a 2.4-second mono PCM file at 44.1 kHz with a short fade. It does not export the comparison chord or an arpeggiated performance. If Web Audio is unavailable, the note display and WAV download remain usable.
Theoretical note names preserve each degree and may use double accidentals. Equal-tempered playback gives enharmonic notes the same frequency. This browser tool does not add new extended-chord gestures to the webcam instrument; that instrument has its own triad, inversion and seventh controls.
Play the separate gesture instrument → · Local processing and privacy →
Answers before you play
Seventh Flat Five Chord Questions
What are the notes in C seventh flat five?
C · E · G♭ · B♭. The formula is 1 · 3 · ♭5 · ♭7, with semitone offsets 0, 4, 6, 10. These are the complete notes sounded by this generator in root position.
How does this differ from half-diminished?
Play C7(flat5), then compare C half-diminished. Only E changes to E-flat, making the third the decisive quality difference. Select F-sharp and verify the theoretical C natural fifth spelling rather than treating it as B-sharp.
Are these standard performance voicings?
A lowered fifth can introduce chromatic tension in a dominant chord. Listen to G-flat resolving down to F in a possible C-to-F context. The tool calculates and auditions this collection; it does not infer a key or automatic substitution. The tool states its complete formula and uses close pitch-class rotations for inversion study. Performance omissions and spacing depend on the instrument and musical context.
Can I play and export without a camera?
Yes. Click Play chord or Play arpeggio for local audio. Download WAV saves the displayed chord even if live audio is unavailable. Camera and microphone permission are never requested.
Why does the displayed accidental look unusual?
C7(flat5) is not C diminished seventh, and it is not Cm7(flat5). A flat fifth and sharp eleventh share a pitch class in equal temperament but have different degree spelling and can imply different retained chord members. Note letters follow chord degrees; MIDI numbers show the actual pitches at A4 = 440 Hz.