Scale degrees · C major
The ♭5 of C is G♭
The ♭5 (flat five, written b5) of C is G♭ (G flat): a diminished fifth above the root.
C — the root, 1G♭ — the ♭5
How to find it
Count letters first, the root included: C, D, E, F, G. A 5th lands on G.
Then the sound: a diminished fifth is 6 semitones above C, and the G that is 6 semitones up is G♭.
That is why it is G♭ and not F♯: F♯ is the same key on the piano, but from C it would be a 4th, not a 5th.
Where you meet it
The ♭5 halves the octave: a tritone above C. It is the 5th of the half-diminished and the diminished chord.
In Cm7♭5:
C · E♭ · G♭ · B♭
The ♭5 in every key
| Key | The ♭5 |
|---|---|
| C | G♭ |
| G | D♭ |
| D | A♭ |
| A | E♭ |
| E | B♭ |
| B | F |
| F♯ | C |
| D♭ | A𝄫 |
| A♭ | E𝄫 |
| E♭ | B𝄫 |
| B♭ | F♭ |
| F | C♭ |
Every degree of C
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