B Half-Diminished (Bm7b5) Chord Guitar

The classic half-diminished — the ii chord that opens a minor ii-V-i.

A diminished triad plus a minor 7th (1-♭3-♭5-♭7) — tense but not as harsh as a dim7.
The ii chord of A minor, opening the minor ii-V-i (Bm7b5–E7–Am).
Its flat fifth is what separates it from a plain minor 7th.
A staple of jazz and minor-key turnarounds.

Root3rd5th7th

E6th

FretMuted

Finger—

A5th

Fret2

Finger1

D4th

Fret3

Finger3

G3rd

Fret2

Finger1

B2nd

Fret3

Finger4

e1st

FretMuted

Finger—

Notes: B – F – A – D · Formula: 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7

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Questions about B Half-Diminished (Bm7b5)

What notes are in a B Half-Diminished (Bm7b5) chord?

A B Half-Diminished (Bm7b5) chord contains the notes B, F, A, D. It is built from the half-diminished formula 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7, with B as the root.

What is the difference between Bm7b5 and B diminished?

A B diminished triad is just B-D-F (root, ♭3, ♭5). Bm7b5 adds a minor 7th (A) on top, making it a four-note half-diminished chord. A full B diminished 7th would instead stack a diminished 7th (A♭), giving a darker, fully symmetrical sound. The half-diminished sits between the two.

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