F♯ 7th flat 5 chord on ukulele (F♯7♭5)

Why it sounds like that

F♯ 7th flat 5 is built from an F♯ major triad with a lowered fifth and a minor seventh: 1, 3, ♭5, ♭7. The diminished fifth between F♯ and C creates the chord's signature tension. Compare it to F♯ 7th, where the fifth is perfect and the sound is more settled.

What goes wrong with F♯ 7th flat 5?

• Letting the pinky flatten and touch the E string, causing a buzz.
• Not pressing the ring finger firmly enough on the A string, resulting in a muted note.
• Strumming too hard and causing the fretted notes to rattle.

When to use it

F♯ 7th flat 5 works as a dominant chord in B major, often resolving to B major. Its tense, unstable quality suits jazz and blues, especially in turnarounds or as a passing chord.

Changing to and from F♯ 7th flat 5

• Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives F 7th flat 5.
• From F♯ 7th flat 5, lift the pinky to move to F♯ 7th.

Which voicing to use

The default voicing with E in the bass is the easiest to grab and works well in most contexts. The A♯ inversion at the 9th fret places the major 3rd in the bass, brightening the sound. For a root-position sound, use the 5th fret voicing.