CifraLab

Bbm7b5 Guitar Chord

Bbm7b5 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

Back to Chord Dictionary
Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
Bbm7b5Guitar fingering diagram for Bbm7b51234×1324×STRING6ª×5ªA#4ªE3ªG#2ªC#1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets Bbm7b5 apart

The notes of Bbm7b5 are Bb, Db, Fb and Ab. Bb is the root, Db the minor third, Fb the flat fifth and Ab the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are B flat, D flat, F flat and A flat.

From the low string to the high one you hear Bb, Fb, Ab and Db. The lowest note is Bb on string 5 and the highest is Db on string 2.

Bbm7b5 is a closed shape with no open strings. Move it to another fret and the chord changes, but the fingering stays. Strings 6 and 1 are not played. Everything fits between frets 1 and 2. The second shape on this page starts at fret 5.

Bbdim7 is one change away. String 3 is left open, bringing in Abb, the diminished seventh of Bbdim7. Bbm7b5 holds the whole Dbm chord inside it, Db, Fb and Ab. Going to Bbm, two positions stay the same.

Bbm7b5 shows up in two keys. In B major it is the viiø7 and in Ab minor the iiø7.

Chord Progressions

Explore recommended harmonic circles on CifraLab:

01C C - Am - Dm - G702G G - Em - Am - D703D D - Bm - Em - A704A A - F#m - Bm - E7
Music Theory & Formula

Component notes and harmonic structure (Bbm7b5)

Formula: Half-Diminished (1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7)
Constituent chord intervals:

Bb 1Db ♭3Fb ♭5Ab ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 1 (Bb)

String Control (Muted & Active)4 / 6 • 2 X Muted

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for Bbm7b5:

01

Fret 1

Standard Position
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 1Finger 1
BbDegree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 2Finger 3
E
3rd String (G)
Fret 1Finger 2
AbDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 2Finger 4
DbDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 1 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 1 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 2 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

02

Fret 6

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 6Finger 2
BbDegree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 6Finger 3
AbDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 6Finger 4
DbDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
Fret 5Finger 1
E
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 6 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 6 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 6 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 5 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (Bbm7b5)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 2
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted6th and 1st

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from Bbm7b5

Listen: Bbm7b5 → Bbm · F# · Db

  1. Bbm7b5
  2. Bbm
  3. Bbm7b5
  4. F#
  5. Bbm7b5
  6. Db
Bbm7b5 → Bbm01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 1
  • string 2, fret 2
Move
  • string 4, fret 3
  • string 3, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 1
Bbm7b5 → F#02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 2, fret 2
Move
  • string 6, fret 2
  • string 5, fret 4
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 3, fret 3
  • string 1, fret 2
Bbm7b5 → Db03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 5 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • string 5, fret 4
  • string 4, fret 6
  • string 3, fret 6
  • string 2, fret 6
  • string 1, fret 4

Bbm7b5 in every key

Bbm7b5 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

Difficulty
3/5
Highest fret
2
Frets the hand covers
2
Barre
No
Strings that ring
4/6
Fretting fingers
4

Major keys

Minor keys

Bbm7b5 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (Bbm7b5)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the Bbm7b5 chord?

To play the Bbm7b5 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 5 to string 2. Muted strings must be gently dampened with the fleshy side of a fretting finger to prevent dissonance.

What is the root bass note of the Bbm7b5 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the Bbm7b5 chord is its root note: Bb. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 1.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the Bbm7b5 chord and what is its formula?

The Bbm7b5 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7 formula (Half-Diminished). Its constituent pitches are Bb, Db, Fb, Ab.

How do you prevent the Bbm7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the Bbm7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.

Study sheet · High resolution

Official Bbm7b5 chord diagram

Bbm7b5 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

Thanks for studying with CifraLab

If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.

Buy a coffee

Other chords in the Bb family:

Chord Bb Chord Bbm Chord Bb7 Chord Bbmaj7 Chord Bbm7 Chord Bbaug Chord Bb6 Chord Bbdim7