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Chord and Fret

G7(b5) — dominant seventh flat five

Notes in G7(b5): G – B – Db – FFormula: 1 – 3 – b5 – b7

In the formula, the numbers count steps of the major scale starting from the note that names the chord; "b" lowers a half step, "#" raises one — and a slash names the bass note.

Here the fifth drops a semitone and the chord turns ambiguous on purpose: the same four notes serve two distant dominants (C7(b5) and F#7(b5)). That coincidence is the door to the tritone substitution.

The same chord on all four instruments

G7(b5), 3 4 3 4 x 3G7(b5)12131GDbFB×G
Guitar
G7(b5), 3 4 3 4 x 3G7(b5)12131GDbFB×G
Electric guitar
G7(b5), 5 4 2 3G7(b5)4312GBDbF
Cavaquinho
G7(b5), 0 1 1 2G7(b5)112GDbFB
Ukulele

Where to use it: Jazz, bossa and turnarounds — the natural step toward swapping one dominant for another.

This is just one shape of G7(b5). In Chord and Fret, you check it note by note, playing any shape as an arpeggio; open every variation on the neck, grouped by bass note; and change the tuning — the shape rewrites itself. Start free. Unlock everything with Pro. Plays offline.

See the whole neck in Chord and Fret →

Part of the Sevenths family.

Other chords in this family

Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7Gmaj7G7G7G7G7Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm(maj7)Gm7(b5)Gdim7G7(#5)

See all chord types and qualities →