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C#m7b5 Guitar Chord

C#m7b5 guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.

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Shape 1/2
Chord shapes:(2 positions)
C#m7b5Guitar fingering diagram for C#m7b5Fret 4567×1324×STRING6ª×5ªC#4ªG3ªB2ªE1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets C#m7b5 apart

Play C#m7b5 one string at a time and you hear C#, E, G and B. C# is the root, E the minor third, G the flat fifth and B the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are C sharp, E, G and B.

From the low string to the high one you hear C#, G, B and E. The lowest note is C# on string 5 and the highest is E on string 2.

C#m7b5 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 4 and 5. The second shape on this page starts at fret 8.

C#dim7 is one change away. String 3 moves from fret 4 to fret 3, bringing in Bb, the diminished seventh of C#dim7. C#m7b5 holds the whole Em chord inside it, E, G and B. Going to Dbm, two positions stay the same.

C#m7b5 shows up in two keys. In D major it is the viiø7 and in B 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 (C#m7b5)

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

C# 1E ♭3G ♭5B ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)5th String (A) • Fret 4 (C#)

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

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for C#m7b5:

01

Fret 4

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 4Finger 1
C#Degree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 5Finger 3
GDegree ♭5
3rd String (G)
Fret 4Finger 2
BDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 5Finger 4
EDegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

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

02

Fret 9

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 6th String (Low E)
String Control (Muted & Active):
Root
6th String (Low E)
Fret 9Finger 2
C#Degree 1
5th String (A)
×Muted
Do not play
4th String (D)
Fret 9Finger 3
BDegree ♭7
3rd String (G)
Fret 9Finger 4
EDegree ♭3
2nd String (B)
Fret 8Finger 1
GDegree ♭5
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 6th String (Low E) at fret 9 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 9 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 9 with your Pinky finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 8 with your Index finger. Don't play: 5th String (A), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

Ergonomic tips to play without tension or fatigue (C#m7b5)

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets4 to 5
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted6th and 1st

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from C#m7b5

Listen: C#m7b5 → Dbm · B · A

  1. C#m7b5
  2. Dbm
  3. C#m7b5
  4. B
  5. C#m7b5
  6. A
C#m7b5 → Dbm01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:2 shared positions
Stay in place
  • string 5, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 5
Move
  • string 4, fret 6
  • string 3, fret 6
  • string 1, fret 4
C#m7b5 → B02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 shared position
Stay in place
  • string 3, fret 4
Move
  • string 5, fret 2
  • string 4, fret 4
  • string 2, fret 4
  • string 1, fret 2
C#m7b5 → A03
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 4 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 4, fret 2
  • finger 2: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 2

C#m7b5 in every key

C#m7b5 sits in the scale of 2 keys.

Main shape at a glance

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

Major keys

Minor keys

C#m7b5 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 (C#m7b5)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

Which strings are played and which are muted in the C#m7b5 chord?

To play the C#m7b5 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 C#m7b5 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the C#m7b5 chord is its root note: C#. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 5 at fret 4.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

What notes make up the C#m7b5 chord and what is its formula?

The C#m7b5 chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7 formula (Half-Diminished). Its constituent pitches are C#, E, G, B.

How do you prevent the C#m7b5 chord from buzzing or sounding muted?

To prevent the C#m7b5 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 C#m7b5 chord diagram

C#m7b5 guitar chord diagram with fingering for fingers 1 to 4
Download HD sheet

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Other chords in the C# family:

Chord C#m Chord C#m7 Chord C# Chord C#7 Chord C#dim7