B half-diminished seventh
Bm7b5 Piano Voicings
Bm7b5, 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 Bm7b5 in all 12 keysThe notes in Bm7b5
- B R
- D ♭3
- F ♭5
- A ♭7
Bm7b5 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
B · D · F · A R · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
B · D · A R · ♭3 · ♭7
Rootless A
D · F · A · C# ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
A · C# · D · F ♭7 · 9 · ♭3 · ♭5
Where Bm7b5 fits in a ii-V-I
Bm7b5, 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 Bm7b5 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionBm7b5 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in Bm7b5?
Bm7b5 contains B, D, F, A — root, minor third, diminished (flat) fifth and flat seventh.
What is Bm7b5 used for?
Bm7b5 most often appears as the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i, setting up the dominant that resolves to a minor tonic.