Chord Information
Learn how to play Bm7b5 on piano
Notes in Chord
Intervals
Inversion
Notes (bottom to top): B4 - D5 - F5 - A5
Right Hand Fingering
3=middle, 4=ring, 5=pinky
Interactive Piano
Click the highlighted keys to play the Bm7b5 chord
About the Bm7b5 Chord
The Bm7b5 chord (Bø7) provides essential half-diminished color in common keys. Built from B-D-F-A, this chord functions as ii in A minor—one of the most important minor keys in music. Its dark sophistication appears constantly in jazz standards.
What makes Bm7b5 particularly significant is A minor's prevalence. As the relative minor of C major (the most fundamental key), A minor appears in countless songs, making Bm7b5-E7-Am essential vocabulary.
On piano, Bm7b5's all-white-key voicing (B-D-F-A) is immediately accessible. This simplicity makes it one of the easiest half-diminished chords to play.
Music Theory & Usage
Bm7b5 functions as ii in A minor, where it leads Bm7b5-E7-Am. In C major, it serves as vii. The chord appears throughout jazz standards with A minor sections.
The half-diminished sound is fundamental vocabulary—its all-white-key accessibility makes it an ideal teaching chord.
Famous Songs Using Bm7b5
Hear how professional musicians use the Bm7b5 chord in these well-known songs:
“Beautiful Love”
by Victor Young
Uses Bm7b5 extensively in A minor
“Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise”
by Sigmund Romberg
Features Bm7b5 in its progression
“You Don't Know What Love Is”
by Gene de Paul
Contains Bm7b5 voicings
“Blue Bossa”
by Kenny Dorham
Uses m7b5 in its minor sections
How to Play Bm7b5 on Piano
- Place your thumb on B.
- Place your index finger on D.
- Place your middle finger on F.
- Place your pinky finger on A.
- Press all keys simultaneously to hear the Bm7b5 chord.
Recommended fingering: 1-2-3-5 (right hand)
Bm7b5 Chord Inversions
The Bm7b5 chord can be played in different inversions:
Root Position
B - D - F - A (bass note: B)
First Inversion
D - F - A - B (bass note: D)
Second Inversion
F - A - B - D (bass note: F)
Common Chord Progressions Using Bm7b5
ii-V-I Jazz Progression
Common chord progression
I-vi-ii-V Progression
Common chord progression
Practice Tips for Bm7b5
- Start slowly and focus on pressing all keys simultaneously for a clean sound.
- Practice transitioning between Bm7b5 and other common chords to build muscle memory.
- Listen carefully to how the seventh interval creates tension and color in the chord.
- Practice resolving this chord to its natural target chords in progressions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Bm7b5
What notes are in Bm7b5?
Bm7b5 contains B (root), D (minor 3rd), F (diminished 5th), and A (minor 7th). All white keys—the most accessible half-diminished chord.
What key is Bm7b5 the ii chord of?
Bm7b5 is the ii chord in A minor. The progression Bm7b5-E7-Am is the minor ii-V-i in A—one of the most common minor-key cadences.
Why is Bm7b5 easy to learn?
All four notes are white keys (B-D-F-A), making it immediately accessible. It's often the first half-diminished chord students learn, and it sounds sophisticated despite its simplicity.
How does Bm7b5 connect to C major?
Bm7b5 is the vii chord in C major and the ii chord in A minor (C major's relative minor). It appears in both contexts, connecting major and minor tonalities.