Understanding Min 7B5 and 7B9 Chords

In this chapter, we're going to be looking at a pair of chords that often come together: Min 7B5 and 7B9.

They may look complicated, but they are actually quite easy to deal with. You'll come across them in tunes such as Autumn Leaves and Black Orpheus. These chords often occur in minor key songs.

Example in G Minor

For example, in the key of G minor:

• Instead of the typical minor progression (2-5-1):
  • A minor 7, D7, G minor,
  • you might encounter:
  • A minor 7 flat 5, D7 B9, to G minor.

Minor 7 Flat 5 Chord

First, let's look at the minor 7, flattened fifth.

• This chord is an A minor 7 with the fifth flattened.

Here's how it breaks down:

• A minor 7: (show chord)
• A minor 7 with the fifth flattened: (show chord)
• D7, B9: (show chords)

Now, regarding D7, the ninth is the eighth. When it's flattened, it becomes that.

Arpeggio and Scale

The arpeggio and the scale will be as follows:

The reason these chords work well together is that their scales coincide, as I'll demonstrate with the chords.

Riff Example

Here's a riff you could use over these two chords.

• It's not necessary to follow the same scale through the sequence.
• Instead, you can use a separate scale or arpeggio for each chord.

Alternative Approach

Another approach to these chords is to play the minor blues scale of the I chord, which is G minor.