The C half-diminished chord (Cm7b5) is made of the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bb. It is built from the root C 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.
C half-diminished
Notes: C – Eb – Gb – Bb
Guitar — positions on the neck
Piano — root position and inversions
Fingerings and positions
On guitar, this chord can be played in 3 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): x3434x. On piano, the right hand plays 4 notes, in root position or in an inversion.
Notes and intervals
Note
Interval
C
root
Eb
minor third
Gb
diminished fifth
Bb
minor seventh
In which keys? The C half-diminished chord is the viiø7 of C# major and the iiø7 of Bb minor.
What are the notes of the C half-diminished chord?
The notes of the C half-diminished chord (Cm7b5) are C, Eb, Gb and Bb.
How do you play the C half-diminished chord on guitar?
On guitar, this chord can be played in 3 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): x3434x.
How is the C half-diminished chord built?
The C half-diminished chord (Cm7b5) is made of the notes C, Eb, Gb and Bb. It is built from the root C with a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh.