MetronoTuner
Guitar Standard
en

Install it as an app

It opens full screen, like an app, and works offline.

  1. Tap Share in the browser bar.
  2. Scroll down and tap “Add to Home Screen” .
  3. Tap “Add”. The icon shows up on your home screen.

C half-diminished chord (Cm7(b5)) on piano

The C half-diminished chord (Cm7(b5)) on piano has 4 notes: C, E flat, G flat, and B flat (C, E♭, G♭, B♭). With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1 (1 is the thumb). On the keyboard below, the root (C) has the strongest color; each key shows the note name and the degree.

Notes
CE♭G♭B♭
Formula
1♭3♭5♭7

How to play Cm7(b5) on piano

Root position · From low to high: C E♭ G♭ B♭

Cm7(b5) chord (C half-diminished) on piano, root position: keys C, Eb, Gb, Bb

Right hand: 1-2-3-5 Left hand: 5-3-2-1

Fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index, 3 = middle, 4 = ring, 5 = little finger. The small dot marks middle C (C4). Tap a key to hear the note.

Cm7(b5) chord inversions

Inverting a chord means putting another of its notes in the bass (the lowest key) without changing the notes. Inversions shorten the way your hand travels from one chord to the next and slightly change the color of the sound.

  1. 1st inversion (Cm7(b5)/Eb)

    Cm7(b5)/Eb: E flat (♭3) in the bass

    Cm7(b5)/Eb chord (C half-diminished) on piano, 1st inversion: keys Eb, Gb, Bb, C

    From low to high: E♭ G♭ B♭ C

  2. 2nd inversion (Cm7(b5)/Gb)

    Cm7(b5)/Gb: G flat (♭5) in the bass

    Cm7(b5)/Gb chord (C half-diminished) on piano, 2nd inversion: keys Gb, Bb, C, Eb

    From low to high: G♭ B♭ C E♭

  3. 3rd inversion (Cm7(b5)/Bb)

    Cm7(b5)/Bb: B flat (♭7) in the bass

    Cm7(b5)/Bb chord (C half-diminished) on piano, 3rd inversion: keys Bb, C, Eb, Gb

    From low to high: B♭ C E♭ G♭

Notes and intervals of Cm7(b5)

Cm7(b5) (C half-diminished) is built from 4 notes. Each one fills a degree of the chord:

  • C · 1 · root
  • E♭ · ♭3 · minor third
  • G♭ · ♭5 · diminished fifth
  • B♭ · ♭7 · minor seventh

About the half-diminished chord

The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.

Other C chords

Half-diminished: other roots

Arpeggio

Frequently asked questions

What are the notes of the Cm7(b5) chord on piano?

Cm7(b5) (C half-diminished) has the notes C, E♭, G♭, B♭. The formula is 1 · ♭3 · ♭5 · ♭7: root, minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.

How do you play Cm7(b5) on piano?

Find the C key and add the other notes above it: C, E♭, G♭, B♭. Play them all together. With the right hand, use fingers 1-2-3-5; with the left hand, 5-3-2-1.

What are the inversions of Cm7(b5)?

1st inversion (Cm7(b5)/Eb): E♭ G♭ B♭ C; 2nd inversion (Cm7(b5)/Gb): G♭ B♭ C E♭; 3rd inversion (Cm7(b5)/Bb): B♭ C E♭ G♭.

What does Cm7(b5) mean?

Cm7(b5) is the chord symbol for C half-diminished. The half-diminished chord sounds tense and unstable, but less harsh than the fully diminished one. It is the ii chord of a minor key (Bm7♭5 → E7 → Am) and the vii chord of a major key; common in jazz, bolero and romantic songs in minor keys.

Is the Cm7(b5) chord the same on piano and keyboard?

Yes. The notes and inversions are the same on any keyboard instrument: acoustic piano, digital piano, keyboard, organ or synthesizer.

Cm7(b5) on other instruments

All piano chords