Finger Positions

Root Note D#

Name D# half-diminished over E

Intervals 1P-3m-5d-7m

Relative Minor Cm

Notes E, D#, F#, A, C#

Aliases D#m7b5, D#ø, D#-7b5, D#h7, D#h

How to play the D#m7b5/E Chord

The D#m7b5/E is a fundamental dominant chord in guitar music. To play this chord correctly, ensure your fingers are placed precisely on the frets indicated in the diagram above.

Music Theory Analysis

From a theoretical perspective, the D# half-diminished over E is built using the 1P, 3m, 5d, 7m intervals. In the key of D# Major, this chord functions as the I chord.

Common Progressions

In music composition, the D#m7b5/E chord is often used to create tension or resolution.

I-V-vi-IV

D# → A# → Cm → G#

vi-IV-I-V

Cm → G# → D# → A#

The Diatonic Family

Understanding the "family" of chords that belong to D# helps with transposition and ear training.

Triads

D# Fm Gm G# A# Cm Ddim

7ths

D#maj7 Fm7 Gm7 G#maj7 A#7 Cm7 Dm7b5

Scale Compatibility

View All Scales

Minor Blues Locrian Locrian Pentatonic Super Locrian Pentatonic Altered Locrian #2 Locrian 6 Dorian #4 Hungarian Major Flamenco Bebop Locrian Half-Whole Diminished Composite Blues Messiaen's Mode #3 Chromatic

* 15 scales found containing the notes E, D#, F#, A, C#.

Acoustic & Digital Analysis

Digital footprint of the D#m7b5/E chord for MIDI programming and synthesizer sound design.

MIDI Numbers 64, 63, 66, 69, 61

Frequencies (Hz)

329.6275569128699, 311.1269837220809, 369.9944227116344, 440, 277.1826309768721