The chord collection

The Bm7b5 chord, left-handed

Advanced · Half-diminished seventh. Build the shape, check each string and hear how it sounds.

Left-handed Bm7b5 diagram

Vertical: high e on the left, nut at the top. Horizontal: high e at the top, nut on the right. X = silent, O = open. Dot numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little. A thick line joins notes held with one finger as a barre.

Fret and finger guide

Both codes read from low E to high e, regardless of the diagram view.

Frets
x · 2 · 3 · 2 · 3 · x
Fingers
– · 1 · 3 · 2 · 4 · –
Level
Advanced (this fingering)

Make a clean Bm7b5 chord

Sound only A, D, G and B. Use separate fingers for the two fret-2 notes, keeping low E and high e silent.

  1. Place one finger at a time, just behind the fret wire.
  2. Pick each sounding string slowly. Adjust any finger that mutes its neighbour.
  3. Release pressure, then make the shape again. Aim for a relaxed hand.
  4. Strum four beats, rest for four, then repeat. Rest if your hand becomes tired; stop if you feel pain.

Another way to play it

Try xx7767 higher up the neck, with fingers 2, 3, 1 and 4 on D, G, B and high e.

Fret codes are written low E to high e. An x means leave that string silent.

Practise chord changes with a metronome →
Understand the sound

Bm7b5 notes and chord formula

A half-diminished chord is also written m7b5. It has a minor third, diminished fifth and flat seventh. Try Bm7b5 → E7 → Am, a minor-key ii–V–i.

Formula
1 – b3 – b5 – b7
Chord notes
B – D – F – A

How to read chord diagrams · Build a comfortable barre · Connect chord shapes with CAGED

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