F half-diminished seventh
Fm7b5 Piano Voicings
Fm7b5, 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 Fm7b5 in all 12 keysThe notes in Fm7b5
- F R
- Ab ♭3
- Cb ♭5
- Eb ♭7
Fm7b5 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
F · Ab · Cb · Eb R · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
F · Ab · Eb R · ♭3 · ♭7
Rootless A
Ab · Cb · Eb · G ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
Eb · G · Ab · Cb ♭7 · 9 · ♭3 · ♭5
Where Fm7b5 fits in a ii-V-I
Fm7b5, 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 Fm7b5 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionFm7b5 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in Fm7b5?
Fm7b5 contains F, Ab, Cb, Eb — root, minor third, diminished (flat) fifth and flat seventh.
What is Fm7b5 used for?
Fm7b5 most often appears as the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i, setting up the dominant that resolves to a minor tonic.