Bm7b5 Guitar Chord

Bm7b5 is a minor 7 flat 5 (half-diminished) chord made of B · D · F · A. The ii chord of minor keys. The standard shape is a barre chord at fret 2: x2323x (6th string → 1st string, x = don't play, 0 = open string).

Chord charts

Bm7b5

Fret 2 barre · root on 5th string · x2323x

Bm7b5

Open position · root on 5th string · x20201

Bm7b5

Fret 7 barre · root on 6th string · 7-8-9-7-10-7 · from fret 7

Bm7b5

Fret 9 · root on 4th string · x-x-9-10-10-10 · from fret 9

Index finger on string 5 (A), fret 2.
Middle finger on string 3 (G), fret 2.
Ring finger on string 4 (D), fret 3.
Pinky finger on string 2 (B), fret 3.
Don't play strings 6, 1 (or mute lightly).
Strum down from string 5.

Bm7b5 guitar chord chart — fret 2 barre x2323x and 3 more shapes — All Bm7b5 shapes on one image — long-press (or right-click) to save it.

Notes in the chord

B
rootD
3rdF
5thA
7th

Play it easier with a capo

Capo on fret 2 + Am7b5 shape → sounds as Bm7b5

If barre chords are hard, clamp a capo and play an open shape — it sounds exactly the same. The Buskermate app can move a whole chord sheet to any capo position for you.

Try it: capo on

Scales that fit

B Locrian Mode

Other B chords

B Bm B7 Bmaj7 Bm7 B6 Bm6 Bsus4 Bsus2 B7sus4 Bdim Bdim7 Bm7b5 Baug Badd9 B9 Bm9 Bmaj9

Minor 7 flat 5 (half-diminished) chords in other keys

Cm7b5 C♯m7b5 Dm7b5 E♭m7b5 Em7b5 Fm7b5 F♯m7b5 Gm7b5 A♭m7b5 Am7b5 B♭m7b5 Bm7b5

FAQ

What notes are in the Bm7b5 chord?

The Bm7b5 chord is made of B, D, F, A. The ii chord of minor keys.

What's the easiest way to play Bm7b5 on guitar?

The standard shape, from the 6th string to the 1st, is x2323x (a barre chord at fret 2). If the barre is hard, put a capo on fret 2 and play a Am7b5 shape — it sounds the same.

Which scale works for soloing over Bm7b5?

B locrian fits well.

🎸 Transpose a whole chord sheet — Buskermate
Upload a PDF song sheet and Buskermate reads the chords and moves them to any key or capo position (the app is in Korean for now).