The B half-diminished chord (Bm7b5) is made of the notes B, D, F and A. It is built from the root B with a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh.
The half-diminished chord (m7b5) is the second-degree chord of minor keys; very common in jazz.
B half-diminished
Notes: B – D – F – A
Guitar — positions on the neck
Piano — root position and inversions
Fingerings and positions
On guitar, this chord can be played in 4 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): x2323x. On piano, the right hand plays 4 notes, in root position or in an inversion.
Notes and intervals
Note
Interval
B
root
D
minor third
F
diminished fifth
A
minor seventh
In which keys? The B half-diminished chord is the viiø7 of C major and the iiø7 of A minor.
What are the notes of the B half-diminished chord?
The notes of the B half-diminished chord (Bm7b5) are B, D, F and A.
How do you play the B half-diminished chord on guitar?
On guitar, this chord can be played in 4 ways along the neck. It is most often played with a barre. Example fingering (from the low E string to the high E string, x = muted string): x2323x.
How is the B half-diminished chord built?
The B half-diminished chord (Bm7b5) is made of the notes B, D, F and A. It is built from the root B with a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh.