Half-Diminished Seventh Chords

Definition

Half-diminished seventh chords are four-note chords consisting of a diminished triad with an added minor seventh. They have a melancholic and mysterious sound and are commonly used in jazz and classical music.

Analogy

Picture a foggy evening where you can only see half of what's around you - that's how half-diminished seventh chords sound! Just like how the fog creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, half-diminished seventh chords add a touch of mystery to music.

Related terms

Fully Diminished Seventh Chord: A fully diminished seventh chord is a four-note chord consisting of two stacked minor thirds. It has an even more dissonant and tense sound compared to half-diminished seventh chords.

Minor Triad: A minor triad is a three-note chord consisting of a root, minor third, and perfect fifth. Half-diminished seventh chords include this minor triad as their base.

Tritone Substitution: Tritone substitution is when one dominant chord is replaced by another dominant chord whose root is a tritone away. Half-diminished seventh chords can be used as substitutes for dominant sevenths in certain musical contexts.