Bbm7b5 Ukulele Chord
Bbm7b5 on ukulele is 1-1-0-1: put your index finger on the 1st fret of the g string, your middle finger on the 1st fret of the C string, your ring finger on the 1st fret of the A string and leave the E string open. It is a three-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast. You will also see it written as A#m7b5, A sharp minor seventh flat five.
- Notes: Bb, Db, E and Ab
- Frets: 1 1 0 1
- Tuning: g C E A
Bbm7b5 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Half-diminished 7th
- Also known as
- A#m7b5, or Bb minor seventh flat five
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5 b7
- Intervals
- Bb (root), Db (minor 3rd), E (diminished 5th), Ab (minor 7th)
- Notes
- Bb, Db, E and Ab
- Frets
- 1 1 0 1
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Bbm7b5 chord
Here is the Bbm7b5 chord step by step:
- Put your index finger on the 1st fret of the g string.
- Put your middle finger on the 1st fret of the C string.
- Put your ring finger on the 1st fret of the A string.
- Leave the E string open.
- Strum all four strings.
Take it slowly the first few times and it will start to feel natural. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Bbm7b5?
Not really. 1-1-0-1 is already the simplest playable shape for Bbm7b5 on a ukulele; every alternative either needs more fingers or sits higher up the neck. If it still feels awkward, the tips above are the fix.
What notes are in the Bbm7b5 chord?
The Bbm7b5 chord is built from four notes: Bb, Db, E and Ab (the root, minor 3rd, diminished 5th and minor 7th). This half-diminished chord sounds tense and unresolved, a moody favorite in jazz and film music. New to these? Have a read about seventh chords.
Ukulele songs that use the Bbm7b5 chord
Want to go further?
Once Bbm7b5 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try Bb7, Bbmaj7, Bbm and Bb. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. When that feels good, work on switching between chords faster. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.