Chord Information
Learn how to play C#m7b5 on piano
Notes in Chord
Intervals
Inversion
Notes (bottom to top): C#4 - E4 - G4 - B4
Right Hand Fingering
3=middle, 4=ring, 5=pinky
Interactive Piano
Click the highlighted keys to play the C#m7b5 chord
About the C#m7b5 Chord
The C#m7b5 chord (C#ø7) brings half-diminished color to sharp-key harmony. Built from C#-E-G-B, this chord typically functions as ii in B minor, one of the more dramatic minor keys. The half-diminished sound provides essential minor-key sophistication.
What makes C#m7b5 distinctive is its position in common progressions. In B minor, C#m7b5-F#7-Bm is the classic minor ii-V-i. The chord also appears as vii in D major, though this function is less common.
On piano, C#m7b5 combines C# (black) with E, G, and B (white). This accessible shape makes the chord comfortable to voice and voice-lead.
Music Theory & Usage
C#m7b5 functions as ii in B minor, leading the minor ii-V-i progression. In D major, it serves as vii chord. The chord appears in jazz standards that use B minor or modulate through sharp keys.
The half-diminished sound provides sophisticated minor harmony in sharp-key contexts.
Famous Songs Using C#m7b5
Hear how professional musicians use the C#m7b5 chord in these well-known songs:
“Blue in Green”
by Miles Davis
Uses half-diminished chords for its modal minor sound
“Solar”
by Miles Davis
Features m7b5 in its jazz changes
“Nardis”
by Miles Davis
Contains half-diminished voicings
“My Romance”
by Richard Rodgers
Uses m7b5 in minor passages
How to Play C#m7b5 on Piano
- Place your thumb on C#.
- Place your index finger on E.
- Place your middle finger on G.
- Place your pinky finger on B.
- Press all keys simultaneously to hear the C#m7b5 chord.
Recommended fingering: 1-2-3-5 (right hand)
C#m7b5 Chord Inversions
The C#m7b5 chord can be played in different inversions:
Root Position
C# - E - G - B (bass note: C#)
First Inversion
E - G - B - C# (bass note: E)
Second Inversion
G - B - C# - E (bass note: G)
Common Chord Progressions Using C#m7b5
ii-V-I Jazz Progression
Common chord progression
I-vi-ii-V Progression
Common chord progression
Practice Tips for C#m7b5
- Start slowly and focus on pressing all keys simultaneously for a clean sound.
- Practice transitioning between C#m7b5 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 C#m7b5
What notes are in C#m7b5?
C#m7b5 contains C# (root), E (minor 3rd), G (diminished 5th), and B (minor 7th). Three white keys with one black key.
Is C#m7b5 the same as Dbm7b5?
Yes, enharmonically identical. C#m7b5 appears in sharp keys (B minor, D major); Dbm7b5 appears in flat keys. Same sound, different contexts.
What key is C#m7b5 the ii chord of?
C#m7b5 is the ii chord in B minor. The progression C#m7b5-F#7-Bm is the minor ii-V-i in B.
How do I voice C#m7b5 for jazz?
Try root position (C#-E-G-B) or inversions. Shell voicing (C#-E-B) works well with bass covering the root. The chord voice-leads smoothly to F#7.