F♯m7♭5 chord on guitar

F♯m7♭5 is F♯, A, C and E. The usual shape is 2-0-2-2-1-0. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

2-0-2-2-1-0 · open · medium

Notes: F♯ · A · C · E
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
First shape: 2-0-2-2-1-0

How to play F♯m7♭5 on guitar

Shape 1, 2-0-2-2-1-0, reading from the low E string on the left:

C: index finger, 1st fret of the B string.
F♯: middle finger, 2nd fret of the low E string.
E: ring finger, 2nd fret of the D string.
A: pinky finger, 2nd fret of the G string.
Leave the A and high E strings open: A and E.

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
Your little finger has a job in this shape; it gets stronger in a week or two of short daily practice.

Other ways to play F♯m7♭5

2-x-2-2-1-x: movable shape, medium. Built on the Em7♭5 open shape with the barre as a movable nut; the root is on the 6th string.
x-9-10-9-10-x: movable shape at the 9th fret, medium. This is the open Am7♭5 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
x-x-4-5-5-5: movable shape at the 4th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.

Moving between F♯m7♭5 and its neighbours

These are the changes you'll meet most often with F♯m7♭5, using the first shape of each chord.

B7 (the iiø7 of a minor key heads to V7): F♯m7♭5 (2-0-2-2-1-0) to B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2): your index finger lands on the D string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for F♯ and A, which stay put while the rest moves. B7 on guitar
Gmaj7 (I in G major): F♯m7♭5 (2-0-2-2-1-0) to Gmaj7 (3-2-0-0-0-2): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the high E string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the low E string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared note: F♯. Gmaj7 on guitar
Bm7 (iii in G major): F♯m7♭5 (2-0-2-2-1-0) to Bm7 (x-2-0-2-0-2): move the index finger to the A string, 2nd fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 2nd fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: F♯ and A. Bm7 on guitar

F♯m7♭5 is a half-diminished chord (minor seventh flat five). F♯m7♭5 is the ii chord of a minor key, the first step of a minor ii–V–i. Play it once strummed and once picked to hear the difference.

Getting F♯m7♭5 under your fingers

Before strumming, play 2-0-2-2-1-0 note by note: F♯ then A then E then A then C then E. A dead note tells you exactly which finger to fix. Then switch to 2-x-2-2-1-x and back four times without looking at your hand.

Written G♭m7♭5, it's the same chord with the same frets.

Where F♯m7♭5 shows up

F♯m7♭5 on piano and ukulele

F♯m7♭5 on piano and ukulele uses the same 4 notes in a different layout. See all three together.

Next to try on guitar

Other half-diminished chords

F♯m7♭5 on guitar: questions

What notes are in F♯m7♭5 on guitar?

F♯, A, C and E. In the 2-0-2-2-1-0 shape the strings play F♯ (low E string), A (A string, open), E (D string), A (G string), C (B string) and E (high E string, open), so A and E are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play F♯m7♭5 on guitar?

F♯m7♭5 takes a little stretching on guitar; start with 2-0-2-2-1-0. It uses 4 fingers and no barre, with open strings, and a capo can make it easier in some songs.

Is F♯m7♭5 a barre chord on guitar?

Not usually: 2-0-2-2-1-0 needs no barre.

Which string does F♯m7♭5 start on?

In the 2-0-2-2-1-0 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 2nd fret, which is F♯, the root.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes F♯, A, C and E and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.