E ♭5 Arpeggio
The E ♭5 Arpeggio arpeggio outlines the notes E, G♯, A♯ across the entire fretboard. Playing these 3 notes individually creates melodic lines that follow the chord shape. Contains 2 sharped notes.
The major 7 flat 5 replaces the perfect 5th in a major 7th chord with a diminished 5th. It has a dreamy, floating quality — not as dark as diminished, but definitely unusual and ear-catching.
Constructed as R, 3, ♭5, 7, this chord is associated with the Lydian mode (where the ♯4/♭5 occurs naturally). The major 3rd and major 7th keep it bright, while the ♭5 adds an unexpected twist. Sometimes written as maj7♯11 without the natural 5th.
Take any maj7 shape and lower the 5th by one fret. Works well in small voicings on the top four strings. The Lydian quality makes it useful as a color chord over static major passages.
- Naima - John Coltrane (maj7♭5 voicings)