C half-diminished seventh
Cm7b5 Piano Voicings
Cm7b5, the half-diminished chord, is the ii chord of a B♭ minor ii-V-i. Its lowered fifth gives the tense, unresolved colour that defines minor-key jazz.
Drill Cm7b5 in all 12 keysThe notes in Cm7b5
- C R
- Eb ♭3
- Gb ♭5
- Bb ♭7
Cm7b5 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
C · Eb · Gb · Bb R · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
C · Eb · Bb R · ♭3 · ♭7
Rootless A
Eb · Gb · Bb · D ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
Bb · D · Eb · Gb ♭7 · 9 · ♭3 · ♭5
Where Cm7b5 fits in a ii-V-I
Cm7b5, the half-diminished chord, is the ii chord of a B♭ minor ii-V-i. Its lowered fifth gives the tense, unresolved colour that defines minor-key jazz.
The fastest way to internalise Cm7b5 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionCm7b5 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in Cm7b5?
Cm7b5 contains C, E♭, G♭ and B♭ — root, minor third, diminished (flat) fifth and flat seventh.
What is the difference between Cm7b5 and Cdim7?
Both lower the fifth, but Cm7b5 keeps a flat seventh (B♭) while Cdim7 uses a diminished seventh (B♭♭ / A), making the diminished chord fully symmetrical.