What is this chord?

[Bobby G]

I've been doodling around with arpeggios a bit, having fun with trying to place where one composed of nothing but minor thirds fits (this is a diminished, right?) as a route from one chord to another.

I seem to have 'discovered a chord' that comprises the notes of B, D, F and A, which seems to my ear to lead into first an E major or E7th (in effect lowering the F and A by a semitone) chord before resolving to an A major. What is this thing called? Have my uneducated fumblings led me to something useful?

Cheers, Bob

 

[Pete Thomas]

Yes

It's a Bm7b5 AKA B half diminished, and your dead right about E7 to A.

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks for that Pete, and so quick (you're up late!). You've confirmed I've come up with something legit. It seems to work resolving back to A minor via the E7, too. The progression sounds to me like the staccato chords towards the end of the verse of Van Morrison's 'Moondance', or something like a part of 'Walking Spanish' by Tom Waits.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Pete Thomas]

Bobby G wrote:
Thanks for that Pete, and so quick (you're up late!).

Unusually for me I was (adding some finishing touches to the new breakfast room)


Actually a half diminished is the most "legitimate" form of II V I for a minor as it is formed from the notes from the harmonic minor scale. The Bm7 E7 Am (without the b5) can be a bit jarring in a minor key (even though the F# fits a minor melodic).

Using minor harmony with major keys or major key centres works well because it sounds a bit bluesy.

Looks like it's about time you took the plunge into my jazz theory pages 8)

PS: chord symbol for half diminished is also a small 0 with a diagonal line though it