Is it Really a Half Diminished 7th Chord? - Music Theory

[@MusicMattersGB]

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[@MusicLover-oe3ig]

Playing diminished 7th chords in solid, broken or arpeggios forms is a must for daily practice routine. I never heard of 'Half Diminished 7th chord until watching KZbin. Thank you so much for demystifying this chord. Your videos are really gold mine!

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here kzbin.info/door/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.

[@rockychieng88]

half diminished are played in minor jazz all the time 2-5-1, usually harmonic minor and melodic minor scale

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@guyanderton]

this is great I have long wondered about this question and now you explain it so easily, thank you for this.

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

[@DeadTalkLive]

Nice clip 👍👍! As a current KZbinr, I am always looking for fresh ideas! Excellent Job!

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s most kind. See www.mmcourses.co.uk for details of our Maestros programme and of our 25 online courses.

[@rjlchristie]

2:40 -2.44 You've labelled C as root, so the diminished seventh chord tone (interval) is B double flat, not A.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely. Just trying to make it easier for players.

[@annwolfe2934]

I tell my students that the letter names determines the chord. Letter names are important! 😃

[@MusicMattersGB]

Absolutely. That’s why we cover both.

[@pdkett1]

At around 7.52 you mention the II7 b. (A7 in first inversion) what is the b? You mention b again later on. Do you mean 6? as that's what they would call a first inversion chord in first inversion in classical music.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Hi. Yes ‘a’ indicates root position, ‘b’ first inversion and ‘c’ second inversion. These are standard descriptions for chords in the U.K. tradition but 5/3, 6/3 and 6/4 chord descriptions are also used.

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

I am not typing this comment, my fingers are. But I am so good at typing I just have to think about words, and I trust my fingers to do the rest. Why can't the piano be so easy? Sequences. I've changed the way to practice in a key since you showed us sequences in a previous video. I started yesterday. The Meyer, the Prinner, the Aprile, the Jupiter, etcff. The key of the day was Ab Major and F Minor, and I tried to go through the sequences and chord progressions. It was quite difficult at first, but my fingers started to feel the pattern. I can always go back to C Major to try an "easier" key, and go back to Ab. When you drew this out, the voice leading looked very simple. The tensor clausula goes down a half step, the lower bass clausula moves up a step, the octave bass clausula stays the same, and then there's a pattern to go into the Ic. I'll write this out in my sequence section and I hope you don't mind if I call it the Gareth? By practicing it like this, when I see it in the music, my fingers will know what to do. Merci beaucoup for being the best music teacher on the internet.

[@MusicMattersGB]

It’s really good to follow a systematic approach like that. Thank you for your kind words

[@pjr-asian-art-songs]

Are there any circumstances where it could be labelled as a Cm6? (iv6) or is that illegal in the key of G major?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Not really. It doesn’t properly describe the chord.

[@randolphmitchell6851]

@@MusicMattersGB In American pop music, one will often see this labeled as Cm6, meaning Cm with C in the bass and the A added. I also see flat 5ths, but never, outside of formal music classes, a half-diminished 7th, in any inversion. Functionally, I think this is still a borrowed chord, but a with a different perspective on what the root is.

[@markchapman6800]

@@randolphmitchell6851 But if it's the *key* of C minor, then the A should be flat. If the key is G, then it would be a subdominant 6-5 which is just an inverted II7 anyway.

[@MusicMattersGB]

It’s certainly possible to see it in more than one way.

[@MusicMattersGB]

Worth reflecting on the nature of chromatic chords in that they use accidentals from outside of the key.

[@alandenton2973]

Thanks. I have a much better understanding now.

[@MusicMattersGB]

A pleasure. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme. If you value this channel and would like to help us continue to share and develop the content please consider supporting us as a level 1 Maestro by clicking here kzbin.info/door/8yI8P7Zi3yYTsypera-IQgjoin Alternatively you can express your support for the channel by clicking on the Super Thanks button beneath any of our videos. Thank you.

[@ised-5239]

So half diminished chords can also referred as minor 7 flatted 5th (m7b5) and diminished minor 7 (dim m7).

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@brendanolivieri4091]

There is no “half diminished” chord. You mean “half diminished 7th” chord. Sorry to nitpick, but the 7th is the only difference between a diminished 7th chord and a half diminished 7th chord. “Half diminished 7th chords” and “minor7flat5 (m7b5)” chords are the same thing. No one refers to it as a “diminished minor 7th (dim m7)” chord.

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@bothzoli]

so the harmonic function won't change and it would still be a predominant chord, right? how would the half diminished 7 chord function if it weren't borrowed, but the naturally occurring subtonic chord? i suppose it'd have a dominant function in that case? thanks for the informative video 😊

[@MusicMattersGB]

Indeed. Thanks for your positive comment.

[@alessandropizzotti932]

I wanted to ask exactly the same! Thanks for the question and thanks @Music Matters for the answer!

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@isaacshaw1596]

I never say A minor 7 b5 it is a bit long winded and it’s not an A minor chord if it has a flat 5 in the chord, it is a diminished chord with a minor seventh not a diminished 7th so I can actually understand the logic of calling it half diminished so really if you want to get into it, the more correct name would be half diminished. Of course you can call it a borrowed chord if that’s how it functions. Which of course you gave an example of that but that’s a very specific setting to call it a borrowed chord. You can have a chord VII with a minor 7th and that’s a half diminished chord and it’s not a borrowed chord so, I think in many ways it’s just function. It’s a half diminished chord that can be seen as a borrowed chord if you see the logic of what I am getting at. Also some would call it a C minor 6 when you put it into first inversion. Again depends on function but most of the time even calling that would be technically incorrect for me. Am I being picky?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Function is everything

[@harrieth7003]

I am boggled by this, been googling all night as to whether a half diminished TRIAD is the same as a diminished triad or not? Was doing vocal exercise today which had ‘half diminished triad’ as 1, 3, 5b. But then a half diminished 7th is 1, 3b, 5b, 7b? But google tells me a half diminished triad would have a flat 3. So then a half diminished triad and a diminished triad are the same (1, 3b, 5b)? With the 7th being double flat if extending the diminished out to a 7th chord…? Anyway going to watch this video in the morning and I’m sure it will become clear as your videos always help!

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@michaelcalder9089]

First 2 chords in example bass and top line parallel 5ths? Does the 2nd chord(half dim7th) negate this?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Hi. Those are not parallels because we are repeating at the same pitch. Only if a perfect 5th moves to another perfect 5th at a different pitch would they be parallel 5ths.

[@tobyyungggggggggg]

I didn't even realize you had a keyboard there until you started playing it lol anyways,this was very helpful

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad you found it. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@pamelalawson4043]

Is there a chance to do a video on how to play scales and cords when you have small hands. Thank you, love your channel

[@MusicMattersGB]

Ok. There’s a possible topic. If you want a one to one lesson let me know.

[@shadbirifat8031]

I am your regular student, Thank you sir for your contribution.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s most kind. Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our exciting Maestros programme.

[@nathanielburkenshire73]

I want to learn about subjects in music. I guess they have something to do with an original theme and it's changed somehow, but I don't know what makes it different.

[@MusicMattersGB]

That’s great. Much more on the Music Matters channel and at www.mmcourses.co.uk including details of our 25 online courses and of our Maestros programme.

[@miwir1248]

Oh dear this is way above my pay grade but enjoyed it nevertheless!

[@MusicMattersGB]

Glad you enjoyed it! Much more at www.mmcourses.co.uk

[@gkgyver]

So... Since I'm mischievous: is the half diminished chord the Tristan chord?

[@MusicMattersGB]

Not quite. FBD#G# is where the Tristan chord begins.

[@romulusbuta9318]

........negative harmony ☝️😃 = to borrow a chord from harmonic minor key...

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@jean-carolguenard8633]

No need to say, 7th chords!!? It's rather confusing.... Sounds to me as it's a dominant chords!... Half or diminished the difference is at the 7th... I love to discriminate the 2 diminished by calling it with your second option.. minor 7 flat 5 Just saying, I love your way of teaching, it's just that I see this concept baffled...and it's hard after stretch the concept afterwards... Thanks a jazz player ;)

[@MusicMattersGB]

Thanks for your positive comment. I think musicians from different traditions see the same thing from different perspectives.

[@annonymeandfish]

I call it Maj7/#2 ommit 1

[@MusicMattersGB]

😀

[@d.l.loonabide9981]

One great chord with two horrible names to choose from!

[@MusicMattersGB]

True