But that's not the only way a m7b5 has ever been written, which is my entire point. You may have been exposed to one certain way, but there are others. For instance using the '-' to denote a minor seventh is an alternate form that is common in jazz charts. So you might see something like -7b5. The delta sign ∆ is often used in place of 'Maj' for a major seventh, so you might see EMaj7 on one sheet and E∆7 on another.tapper mike wrote:In as far as jazz chord nomenclature. I've always found it explicit. A m7b5 chord is exactly that, a chord built with a minor third a 7th and a flat 5th. If I see it written in a song I may or may not omit the 5th. But I know if I were to play the 5th to play it as a flattened 5th.
As to omitting the diminished fifth in a m7b5 chord that would be omitting an essential chord member of the chord. Yes the fifth can often be omitted when there is no alteration (P5) but when there is an alteration of a diminished or augmented fifth then it becomes essential and omitting it changes the chord.
Think about it, if you omit the b5 from a m7b5 chord then all you are really playing is a m7 chord which is a completely different sound and function (the m7b5 typically functioning as the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i [in jazz at least]).