Chord reference · four-note chord
Bm7b5 chord (B half-diminished seventh)
For a quick answer, the notes in Bm7b5 are B, D, F, A. The diagrams below show the same pitch set on piano and guitar.
Bm7b5 chord notes and interval formula
The formula 1–♭3–♭5–♭7 means the chord is measured from B using the root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh. In semitone numbers from the root, the pattern is 0–3–6–10.
| Degree | Interval | Semitones | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Root | 0 | B |
| ♭3 | Minor Third | 3 | D |
| ♭5 | Diminished Fifth | 6 | F |
| ♭7 | Minor Seventh | 10 | A |
How to play Bm7b5 on piano
Start with the notes in root position from low to high: B – D – F – A. Right hand 1–2–3–5; left hand 5–3–2–1 is a useful starting point, but black-key combinations and melodic movement may make another fingering more comfortable.
For a cleaner accompaniment, place the root in the left hand and play the remaining tones in the right. With extended chords, keep the third and seventh because they identify the chord quality most clearly.
How to play Bm7b5 on guitar
Try the shape x-2-0-2-0-1 in standard tuning, read from low E to high E. The sounding-string details are: E mute; A fret 2: B; D open: D; G fret 2: A; B open: B; E fret 1: F. Keep every note clear and release pressure from strings marked “x.”
This is one voicing, not the only correct shape. The chord remains Bm7b5 whenever the essential pitch classes are present; doubling, omission, and bass-note choice change the voicing rather than the basic chord name.
Bm7b5 inversions and slash chords
Inversions keep the same notes but place a different chord tone in the bass. They are useful for smoother bass lines, compact keyboard movement, and alternative guitar voicings.
| Position | Symbol | Notes low to high | Bass |
|---|---|---|---|
| Root position | Bm7b5 | B – D – F – A | B |
| 1st inversion | Bm7b5/D | D – F – A – B | D |
| 2nd inversion | Bm7b5/F | F – A – B – D | F |
| 3rd inversion | Bm7b5/A | A – B – D – F | A |
What Bm7b5 sounds like and where it fits
The B half-diminished seventh chord is dark and unstable. Half-diminished seventh chords often function as iiø7 in minor-key ii–V–i progressions or as leading-tone seventh chords in major. The flat fifth supplies tension while the minor seventh keeps the sound less symmetrical than a fully diminished seventh.
Bm7b5 compared with similar chords
Small interval changes create different chord names. Use this table to avoid confusing Bm7b5 with nearby structures.
| Chord | Quality | Formula | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bdim7 | Diminished Seventh | 1–♭3–♭5–♭♭7 | B, D, F, A♭ |
| Bm7 | Minor Seventh | 1–♭3–5–♭7 | B, D, F♯, A |
| Bdim | Diminished | 1–♭3–♭5 | B, D, F |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the Bm7b5 chord?
The Bm7b5 chord contains B, D, F, A. Its interval formula is 1–♭3–♭5–♭7.
How do you play Bm7b5 on piano?
Play B, D, F, A together. A practical root-position fingering is right hand 1–2–3–5; left hand 5–3–2–1; adjust the fingering to your hand and musical context.
How do you play Bm7b5 on guitar?
One compact standard-tuning shape is x-2-0-2-0-1 from the low E string to the high E string. An “x” means mute that string.
What does the symbol Bm7b5 mean?
The root is B. The suffix m7b5 identifies a half-diminished seventh structure with the formula 1–♭3–♭5–♭7.
How many inversions does Bm7b5 have?
A 4-note chord has 4 closed-position arrangements when every chord tone is retained: root position plus 3 inversions. Extended practical voicings may omit notes.