CifraLab

F#m7b5 Guitar Chord

F#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)
F#m7b5Guitar fingering diagram for F#m7b512342×341×STRING6ªF#5ª×4ªE3ªA2ªC1ª×
View HD sheet

What sets F#m7b5 apart

The notes of F#m7b5 are F#, A, C and E. F# is the root, A the minor third, C the flat fifth and E the minor seventh. Said aloud, its notes are F sharp, A, C and E.

String by string, low to high, it plays F#, E, A and C. It runs from F# on string 6 up to C on string 2.

F#m7b5 uses no barre and no open strings, so you can slide the shape up the neck without changing fingers. Strings 5 and 1 stay silent. Your hand covers two frets, from 1 to 2. There is one more position, starting at fret 9.

Change only string 4 in F#m7b5 and you have F#dim7. Inside F#m7b5 sits a complete Am chord, made of A, C and E. Moving to E, you keep one finger down.

F#m7b5 shows up in two keys. In G major it is the viiø7 and in E minor the iiø7. Further down there is a song that uses it.

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 (F#m7b5)

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

F# 1A ♭3C ♭5E ♭7

Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 2 (F#)

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

2 Fretboard Positions

Other fretboard positions for F#m7b5:

01

Jazz · Half-diminished

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

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

02

Fret 9

Inversion
4 / 6 stringsRoot: 5th String (A)
String Control (Muted & Active):
6th String (Low E)
×Muted
Do not play
Root
5th String (A)
Fret 9Finger 1
F#Degree 1
4th String (D)
Fret 10Finger 3
CDegree ♭5
3rd String (G)
Fret 9Finger 2
EDegree ♭7
2nd String (B)
Fret 10Finger 4
ADegree ♭3
1st String (High E)
×Muted
Do not play

Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 9 with your Index finger, 4th String (D) at fret 10 with your Ring finger, 3rd String (G) at fret 9 with your Middle finger, 2nd String (B) at fret 10 with your Pinky finger. Don't play: 6th String (Low E), 1st String (High E).

Biomechanics & Posture

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

Standard Position

The shape in numbers

ItemIn this chord
Frets1 to 2
Fretting fingers4
Opennone
Muted5th and 1st

What to check

The 5th string stays muted between strings that ring.

What every chord shares is in the fingering reading.

Transitions & Pivot Fingers

Most common chord transitions from F#m7b5

Listen: F#m7b5 → E · D · A

  1. F#m7b5
  2. E
  3. F#m7b5
  4. D
  5. F#m7b5
  6. A
F#m7b5 → E01
Pivot / Anchor Finger:1 finger stays
Stay in place
  • finger 3: string 4, fret 2
Move
  • finger 2: string 5, fret 2
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 1
F#m7b5 → D02
Pivot / Anchor Finger:Full shape change

No finger is shared: place the bass on string 3 first, then the rest of the shape.

Move
  • finger 1: string 3, fret 2
  • finger 3: string 2, fret 3
  • finger 2: string 1, fret 2
F#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

F#m7b5 in every key

F#m7b5 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

F#m7b5 on other instruments

PianoThe same notes on the keyboard.All togetherHear guitar, piano, bass and violin together.
Songs with this chord

Famous songs featuring this chord (F#m7b5)

Well-known songs where this chord plays a clear role

01"Autumn Leaves"Joseph Kosma • 1945The ii chord of the minor ii - V - i cadence (F#m7b5 - B7 - Em).
Frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions about the chord (F#m7b5)

The questions that come up most when playing this chord

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

To play the F#m7b5 chord on guitar, only 4 strings are played, from string 6 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 F#m7b5 chord and on which string is it located?

The primary bass note of the F#m7b5 chord is its root note: F#. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 2.

When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.

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

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

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

To prevent the F#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.

What famous songs use the F#m7b5 chord?

"Autumn Leaves" (Joseph Kosma, 1945). The ii chord of the minor ii - V - i cadence (F#m7b5 - B7 - Em).

Study sheet · High resolution

Official F#m7b5 chord diagram

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

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Other chords in the F# family:

Chord F# Chord F#m Chord F#7 Chord F#maj7 Chord F#m7 Chord F#dim7 Chord F#aug Chord F#9