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

Not played

E6th string

FretMuted

Finger—

Root

ABass5th string

Fret2

Finger1 index

5th

D4th string

Fret3

Finger3 ring

7th

G3rd string

Fret2

Finger1 index

3rd

B2nd string

Fret3

Finger4 pinky

Not played

e1st string

FretMuted

Finger—

NotesB – F – A – D

Formula1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7

Voicingx2323x

TonesB×1·D×1·F×1·A×1

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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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