Bb Minor Seventh Flat five Guitar Chord Fingering
To play Bbm7b5, the Bb half-diminished chord, you need Bb, Db, Fb and Ab, the root, minor third, flat five and minor seventh. It is the ii chord of a minor key, so it often sits in front of a dominant chord in a minor ii-V-i progression.
Fb is a theoretical note, which is why the same sound is also written A#m7b5. Melodies over Bbm7b5 can draw on the Bb Locrian scale, which contains every note of the chord. In a major key it lands on the seventh degree, where it is sometimes called the leading-tone seventh chord.
Bbm7b5 is the ii chord of Ab minor, and the same pitches serve as the vii chord of B major under the name A#m7b5.
Bb minor 7th with flat 5th guitar chord is also written as Bbm7b5, Bbm7(b5), Bbø7 or Bbmin7b5. It is also known as the Bb half-diminished chord.
Notes of the Bb m7b5 chord:
Chord Formula:
Formula: 1 b3 b5 b7
Bb M7b5 Chord Interactive Fretboard
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
Which notes make up Bbm7b5?
Bbm7b5 is spelled Bb, Db, Fb and Ab. These are the root, minor third, flat fifth and minor seventh. Fb sounds like E.
Why does Bbm7b5 contain Fb?
The fifth of Bb falls on the letter F. Lowering it a semitone gives Fb, which sounds like E. Writing E instead would break the letter pattern B, D, F, A.
Is Bbm7b5 the same chord as A#m7b5?
Yes. Bbm7b5 and A#m7b5 sound the same because their pitches match. Bbm7b5 is the flat spelling, and A#m7b5 is the sharp one.
What scale works over Bbm7b5?
The Bb Locrian scale, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, includes all four chord tones, so it is a natural choice for melody notes.
In which keys does Bbm7b5 appear as a diatonic chord?
Bbm7b5 is the ii chord of Ab minor. Its pitches also form the vii chord of B major, which spells it A#m7b5.
