F Half Diminished
Hear the F Half Diminished chord played for you.
Fø7
F – A♭ – B – E♭
Formula:R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals:P1-m3-d5-m7
Scale Degrees:1-b3-b5-b7
Introduction
The F Half Diminished chord is a four-note chord made up of F, A♭, B, and E♭. It is built from a root, minor third, diminished fifth, and minor seventh.
The F Half Diminished piano chord (Fm7b5) consists of the notes F, Ab, B, Eb. It is a diminished triad with an added minor 7th, giving it a dark, moody, and tense character commonly used in jazz and minor key progressions. Formula: R-m3-d5-m7 | Scale degrees: 1-b3-b5-b7.
Notes
F Half Diminished Inversions
| Position | Notes |
|---|---|
| Root Position | F – Ab – B – Eb |
| 1st Inversion | Ab – B – Eb – F |
| 2nd Inversion | B – Eb – F – Ab |
| 3rd Inversion | F – Ab – B – Eb |
Key Signature
The key of F Half Diminished has 1 flat.
B♭
Order of flats
Flats are added in a fixed order — the reverse of the sharp order. Each new flat key adds the next flat on the list.
B♭E♭A♭D♭G♭C♭F♭
Mnemonic: Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles’ Father
Chords in the Key of F Major
These are the diatonic triads built on each degree of the F major scale:
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
A
B
I — F Major (major)
Theory: Intervals
Formula: R-m3-d5-m7
Intervals: P1-m3-d5-m7
The F Half Diminished is built by stacking intervals from the root note. The formula R-m3-d5-m7 describes the scale degrees used. The intervals P1-m3-d5-m7 show the distance between each note in the chord.
F Half Diminished — Frequently Asked Questions
What notes are in the F Half Diminished chord?
Fm7b5 contains: F, Ab, Cb, Eb. Diminished triad with minor seventh.
How does Fm7b5 differ from Fdim7?
Minor seventh (Eb) vs diminished seventh (D).
How is Fm7b5 used?
ii chord in Eb minor.
What songs use Half Diminished?
Jazz minor-key harmony.
How does Fm7b5 differ from Fm7?
Flatted fifth (Cb vs C).
Is Fm7b5 the same as Abm6?
Same notes, different root.
Practice Tips
- Minor-key ii–V–i: Fm7b5 → Bb7 → Ebm.
- Fm7b5 and Abm6 same notes.
- Compare with Fdim7 and Fm7.
- Jazz vocabulary.
- The Cb creates tension.
- Common in jazz.
Related Tools
Chord FinderLook up any chord — see the notes, hear it, and play along.Chord DrillTimed drills to build speed and recognition across all chord types.Practice RoomPlug in a MIDI keyboard and get real-time feedback on every chord and scale.Circle of FifthsVisualize key relationships, relative minors, and key signatures.MIDI MonitorLive MIDI message stream with note names, velocity, and a scrolling staff.