Explore chords · Ukulele
B minor 7th flat 5th chord on ukulele (Bm7♭5)
Also called or written Bm7♭5, B or B Half Diminished Minor 7
B minor 7th flat 5th is built from B, D, F, and A. The 4th fret shape is a stretch that tests pinky independence.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7
- Root positionB–D–F–ABm7♭510-11-10-12
- First inversionD–F–A–BBm7♭5/D2-2-1-2
- Second inversionF–A–B–DBm7♭5/F4-5-5-5
- Third inversionA–B–D–FBm7♭5/A7-9-7-8
How do you play a B minor 7th flat 5th chord on ukulele?
B minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 4th fret as 4 5 5 5: index finger on the G string at fret 4, middle finger on the C string at fret 5, ring finger on the E string at fret 5 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 4 | 1 | B (1) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 2 | F (♭5) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (♭7) |
| 1 (A) | 5 | 4 | D (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must fret the A string at fret 5 cleanly while the ring finger holds the E string at the same fret.
Bm7♭5/A inversion
B minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 7th fret as 7 9 7 8: index finger on the G string at fret 7, pinky finger on the C string at fret 9, middle finger on the E string at fret 7 and ring finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 7 | 1 | D (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 4 | A (♭7) |
| 2 (E) | 7 | 2 | B (1) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (♭5) |
10th fret
B minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 10th fret as 10 11 10 12: index finger on the G string at fret 10, ring finger on the C string at fret 11, middle finger on the E string at fret 10 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 12.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 1 | F (♭5) |
| 3 (C) | 11 | 3 | B (1) |
| 2 (E) | 10 | 2 | D (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (♭7) |
Bm7♭5/D inversion
B minor 7th flat 5th is played at the 1st fret as 2 2 1 2: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (♭7) |
| 3 (C) | 2 | 3 | D (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (♭5) |
| 1 (A) | 2 | 4 | B (1) |
Why it sounds like that
B minor 7th flat 5th uses the formula 1, ♭3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished 5th between B and F gives the chord its unstable quality. Compare it to B minor 7th, which raises the ♭5 to a perfect 5th.
What goes wrong with B minor 7th flat 5th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and deaden the A string.
- Pressing the ring finger too far over and muting the C string.
- Strumming before all four fingers are seated, causing a buzz on the E string.
When to use it
B minor 7th flat 5th works as the ii chord in A natural minor, leading to E minor or A minor. Use it in jazz, blues, and ballads where a darker minor sound is needed.
Changing to and from B minor 7th flat 5th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 3rd fret gives B♭ minor 7th flat 5th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 5th fret gives C minor 7th flat 5th.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret voicing has B in the bass, giving a root-position sound. For a lighter feel, use the Bm7♭5/D inversion with D in the bass.
Other B chords
Common questions
How is B minor 7th flat 5th written?
B minor 7th flat 5th is written as Bm7♭5 or B. It is also called Half Diminished Minor 7.
What is the difference between B minor 7th flat 5th and B diminished?
B diminished is a triad with notes B, D, F. B minor 7th flat 5th adds the minor 7th A.
Can B minor 7th flat 5th be used in place of B minor?
B minor 7th flat 5th has a flattened fifth, so it sounds more tense than B minor. Use it when you want a darker color.