Explore Cm7b5 Chord Shapes on Guitar with Interactive Tools
In Cm7b5, also called C half-diminished, the notes are C, Eb, Gb and Bb: the root, minor third, flat five and minor seventh.
The listed voicings run from fret 3 up to fret 16. In Bb minor it is the ii chord, and the same pitches sit on the seventh degree of C# major. Its top three notes, Eb, Gb and Bb, spell a minor triad, so the chord can be heard as a minor triad over a different bass note.
Melodies over Cm7b5 can draw on the C Locrian scale, which contains every note of the chord. Switch on the microphone in the interactive fretboard at the top, play the chord and see which strings ring.
C minor 7th with flat 5th guitar chord is also written as Cm7b5, Cm7(b5), Cø7 or Cmin7b5. It is also known as the C half-diminished chord.
Notes of the C m7b5 chord:
Chord structure of the Minor Seventh Flat five chord:
Formula: 1 b3 b5 b7
C M7b5 Chord Interactive Fretboard
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C M7b5 Guitar Chord Diagrams
Position 1 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 3 of the A string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 3 of the G string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 4 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 4 of the B string
Position 2 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the A string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 7 of the B string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 8 of the low E string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 8 of the D string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 8 of the G string
Position 3 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the B string
- Mute the high E string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 8 of the low E, D and G strings at the same time
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 9 of the A string
Position 4 Barre Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the A string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 10 of the D string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 11 of the G, B and high E strings at the same time
Position 5 Movable
Finger Positions
- Mute the low E string
- Mute the D string
- Place your index finger (1) on the fret 14 of the high E string
- Place your middle finger (2) on the fret 15 of the A string
- Place your ring finger (3) on the fret 15 of the G string
- Place your pinky finger (4) on the fret 16 of the B string
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Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What notes does Cm7b5 contain?
Cm7b5 is C, Eb, Gb and Bb. These are the root, minor third, flat fifth and minor seventh. Gb is six semitones from C, and Bb is ten.
What is the difference between Cm7b5 and Cdim7?
They share C, Eb and Gb. Cm7b5 ends on Bb, a minor seventh, while Cdim7 lowers it to Bbb, a diminished seventh, one semitone further down.
Which scale can be played over C half-diminished?
The C Locrian scale, C, Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, contains all four chord tones. It offers a reliable group of notes for lines over Cm7b5.
Which major and minor keys contain Cm7b5 as a diatonic chord?
Cm7b5 is the vii chord of C# major and the ii chord of Bb minor. All four notes belong to each key.
How many ways can Cm7b5 be played on guitar?
There are 5 voicings, and 2 of them use a barre. None has an open string. They run from fret 3 up to fret 16.
