B-flat half-diminished seventh

Bbm7b5 Piano Voicings

Bbm7b5, the half-diminished chord, is the ii chord of a minor ii-V-i. Its lowered fifth gives the tense, unresolved colour that defines minor-key jazz.

Drill Bbm7b5 in all 12 keys

The notes in Bbm7b5

  • Bb R
  • Db ♭3
  • Fb ♭5
  • Ab ♭7

Bbm7b5 voicings on piano

Each voicing is the exact shape the trainer drills. Press play to hear it — as a block chord or rolled note by note.

Root Position

Bb · Db · Fb · Ab R · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7

Shell Voicing

Bb · Db · Ab R · ♭3 · ♭7

Rootless A

Db · Fb · Ab · C ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 · 9

Rootless B

Ab · C · Db · Fb ♭7 · 9 · ♭3 · ♭5

Where Bbm7b5 fits in a ii-V-I

Bbm7b5, the half-diminished chord, is the ii chord of a minor ii-V-i. Its lowered fifth gives the tense, unresolved colour that defines minor-key jazz.

The fastest way to internalise Bbm7b5 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.

Practice the full ii-V-I progression

Bbm7b5 — frequently asked questions

What notes are in Bbm7b5?

Bbm7b5 contains Bb, Db, Fb, Ab — root, minor third, diminished (flat) fifth and flat seventh.

What is Bbm7b5 used for?

Bbm7b5 most often appears as the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i, setting up the dominant that resolves to a minor tonic.