Guitar arpeggio
B Minor 7 Flat 5 Guitar Arpeggio
B Minor 7 Flat 5 is a four-note seventh-chord arpeggio built from B, D, F, and A. It is also commonly called B Half-Diminished and Bm7b5. Use it to study chord tones, interval formulas, and guitar fretboard positions.
- Chord tones
- B, D, F, A
- Formula
- 1 b3 b5 b7
- Semitones
- 0 3 6 10
- Chord symbols
- Bm7b5
- Also called
- B Half-DiminishedBm7b5
How to read this arpeggio
The chord tones are shown as pitch classes first. In the fretboard tool, square markers represent B root notes, while circular markers represent the remaining tones in the arpeggio.
Use the interactive fretboard to locate the B root notes and connect the remaining minor 7 flat 5 chord tones across standard tuning.
This same arpeggio shape is also commonly called B Half-Diminished or Bm7b5.
Chord construction and defining tones
B minor 7 flat 5 is defined by b3 (D), b5 (F), and b7 (A). It extends a diminished triad with a flat seventh, producing the half-diminished chord sound.
Harmonic use
Use this arpeggio over Bm7b5, commonly as the ii chord in a minor-key ii-V-i progression.
Practice this arpeggio on guitar
- Play the B Minor 7 Flat 5 arpeggio from one B root to the next in at least two fretboard positions, saying each note name and interval degree aloud.
- Isolate b3 (D), b5 (F), and b7 (A) in three-note groups, then add the root without losing the flat-fifth sound.
- Outline Bm7b5 and move each available chord tone by step into the following dominant chord.
Fretboard diagram
Open this arpeggio in the fretboard tool
Start with B Minor 7 Flat 5 loaded, then adjust tuning, labels, colors, fret count, and orientation.
Open in interactive fretboard