F-sharp half-diminished seventh
F#m7b5 Piano Voicings
F#m7b5, 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 F#m7b5 in all 12 keysThe notes in F#m7b5
- F# R
- A ♭3
- C ♭5
- E ♭7
F#m7b5 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# · A · C · E R · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7
Shell Voicing
F# · A · E R · ♭3 · ♭7
Rootless A
A · C · E · G# ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7 · 9
Rootless B
E · G# · A · C ♭7 · 9 · ♭3 · ♭5
Where F#m7b5 fits in a ii-V-I
F#m7b5, 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 F#m7b5 is to drill it in context across all 12 keys until the shape is automatic.
Practice the full ii-V-I progressionF#m7b5 — frequently asked questions
What notes are in F#m7b5?
F#m7b5 contains F#, A, C, E — root, minor third, diminished (flat) fifth and flat seventh.
What is F#m7b5 used for?
F#m7b5 most often appears as the ii chord in a minor ii-V-i, setting up the dominant that resolves to a minor tonic.