Bm7b5 Ukulele Chord
Bm7b5 on ukulele is 2-2-1-2: put your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string, your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the g string, your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the C string and your little finger on the 2nd fret of the A string. It is a four-finger shape, a little fiddly at first but it settles fast.
- Notes: B, D, F and A
- Frets: 2 2 1 2
- Tuning: g C E A
Bm7b5 ukulele chord details
- Type
- Half-diminished 7th
- Also known as
- B minor seventh flat five
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5 b7
- Intervals
- B (root), D (minor 3rd), F (diminished 5th), A (minor 7th)
- Notes
- B, D, F and A
- Frets
- 2 2 1 2
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Tuning
- Standard (g C E A)
How to play the Bm7b5 chord
Here is the Bm7b5 chord step by step:
- Put your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the g string.
- Put your ring finger on the 2nd fret of the C string.
- Put your index finger on the 1st fret of the E string.
- Put your little finger on the 2nd fret of the A string.
- Strum all four strings.
It is a bit of a stretch, so go slow and let your hand learn the shape. These quick tips for tricky chords help. New to these grids? Have a look at how to read a ukulele chord diagram.
Is there an easier way to play Bm7b5?
Not really. 2-2-1-2 is already the simplest playable shape for Bm7b5 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 Bm7b5 chord?
The Bm7b5 chord is built from four notes: B, D, F and A (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 Bm7b5 chord
Want to go further?
Once Bm7b5 feels comfortable, its close relatives are worth exploring: try B7, Bmaj7, Bm and B. It works as a richer color alongside the basic chords you already know. Then put it into a strumming pattern. When you are ready, try some easy ukulele songs.