Bm7♭5 chord
Bm7♭5 is B, D, F and A: 1–♭3–♭5–♭7 built on B. Below: guitar, piano and ukulele, each playable.
On guitar
x-2-0-2-0-1 · open · easy
- Notes
- B · D · F · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
- First shape
- x-2-0-2-0-1
Bm7♭5 on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · B–D–F–A · right hand 1-2-3-5
- Notes
- B · D · F · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Bm7♭5 on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
2-2-1-2 · movable · medium
- Notes
- B · D · F · A
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
- First shape
- 2-2-1-2
Bm7♭5 and the chords around it
The moves below are the ones you'll meet most, shown for guitar and piano.
- Bm7♭5 → E7 (the iiø7 of a minor key heads to V7)
Guitar: Bm7♭5 (x-2-0-2-0-1) to E7 (0-2-0-1-0-0): your middle finger stays put, your index finger lands on the G string, 1st fret. An easy one to get up to speed. Listen for B and D, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Bm7♭5 to E7: play E7 in 2nd inversion (B–D–E–G♯) and B and D stay under the same fingers, while F moves down to E and A down to G♯. E7 - Bm7♭5 → Cmaj7 (I in C major)
Guitar: Bm7♭5 (x-2-0-2-0-1) to Cmaj7 (x-3-2-0-0-0): the index finger goes to the D string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the A string, 3rd fret. Listen for B, which stays put while the rest moves.
Piano: Bm7♭5 to Cmaj7: play Cmaj7 in 3rd inversion (B–C–E–G) and B stays under the same finger, while D moves down to C, F down to E and A down to G. Cmaj7 - Bm7♭5 → Em7 (iii in C major)
Guitar: Bm7♭5 (x-2-0-2-0-1) to Em7 (0-2-0-0-0-0): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret. Shared notes: B and D.
Piano: Bm7♭5 to Em7: play Em7 in 2nd inversion (B–D–E–G) and B and D stay under the same fingers, while F moves down to E and A down to G. Em7
How Bm7♭5 is built
Bm7♭5 is a half-diminished chord (minor seventh flat five). It is the natural ii chord of a minor key: Bm7♭5 is ii in A minor, where it leads to E7 and then home.
Start on B, count 3 half steps up to D, 3 half steps up to F then 4 half steps up to A.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | root | 0 | |
| D | minor third | 3 | |
| F | diminished fifth | 6 | |
| A | minor seventh | 10 |
Keys and progressions with Bm7♭5
In major keys, Bm7♭5 is viiø7 in C major. In minor keys it is iiø7 in A minor.
Chords close to Bm7♭5
- Bm7♭5 and Bm7 differ by one note: F in Bm7♭5, F♯ in Bm7. They share B, D and A. Bm7
Chords that share most of their notes with Bm7♭5: Dm6, G9, Dm, Bdim, Dm7, D6.
Every B chord
Bm7♭5 chord: questions
What notes are in the Bm7♭5 chord?
B, D, F and A. Bm7♭5 is built 1–♭3–♭5–♭7 from B: D is the minor third, F is the diminished fifth and A is the minor seventh.
How do you play Bm7♭5 on guitar?
The usual shape is x-2-0-2-0-1 (open). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Bm7♭5 on piano?
Play B, D, F and A with right-hand fingers 1-2-3-5. B sits just right of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Bm7♭5 on ukulele?
2-2-1-2 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Bm7♭5 in?
In major keys, Bm7♭5 is viiø7 in C major. In minor keys it is iiø7 in A minor.
What's the difference between Bm7♭5 and Bm7?
Bm7♭5 and Bm7 differ by one note: F in Bm7♭5, F♯ in Bm7. They share B, D and A.
Diagrams and sound come from the same data, tested so they match. Updated September 2026.