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C Sharp Half Diminished Chord on Guitar (C#m7b5)

C sharp half diminished (C#m7b5) on the guitar: press the strings shown below; some strings ring open. Strum from the 5th string down and you hear C#, E, G, B. Here is the shape, finger by finger, plus the chords you will play next to it.

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  • MIDI keyboard
  • Digital or acoustic piano
  • Guitar
  • Computer, phone or tablet
4fr××
C#m7b5 C# E G B

C#m7b5 guitar chord: shape and fingers

4fr××
C#m7b5 C# E G B

Fingers and frets

  • Index: 5th string (A), fret 4
  • Ring: 4th string (D), fret 5
  • Middle: 3rd string (G), fret 4
  • Little: 2nd string (B), fret 5

Which strings to strum

x4545x: × = do not play, 0 = open string.

Chords that go with C#m7b5

Start with C#dim: it is the change you will meet most often after C#m7b5.

C#dim · E · F#m

C#m7b5 string by string

5th string (A)fret 4: C#
4th string (D)fret 5: G
3rd string (G)fret 4: B
2nd string (B)fret 5: E

From C#dim to C#m7b5: 3rd string (G): fret 6 → fret 4.

Slide this shape along the neck: fret 2 = Bm7b5, fret 3 = Cm7b5, fret 5 = Dm7b5, fret 6 = Ebm7b5.

Where C#m7b5 is used

C#m7b5 leads to F#7 and then home: it is the ii chord of a minor key, as in C#m7b5 → F#7 → Bm.

ChordRunner on a phone next to an acoustic guitar, with a chord block on screen

Play C#m7b5 in a game

Strum C#m7b5 near the microphone when it comes up in ChordRunner: the game checks all four notes, C#, E, G, B, and moves on. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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C#m7b5 on piano · Easy guitar chords · Guitar chord game

Common questions

Is C#m7b5 easy on guitar?

Yes, it is one of the open chords beginners learn first. Start slowly, check that every string rings, then practise switching to C#dim.

What is the difference between C#m7b5 and C#dim on guitar?

C#m7b5 adds one note to C#dim: B, on top of C# E G. From C#dim to C#m7b5: 3rd string (G): fret 6 → fret 4.

Which fingers do I use for C#m7b5?

Index finger: 5th string (A), fret 4, ring finger: 4th string (D), fret 5, middle finger: 3rd string (G), fret 4, little finger: 2nd string (B), fret 5.

Does ChordRunner hear C#m7b5 on guitar?

Yes. Strum it near the phone or computer microphone and the game checks the four notes C#, E, G, B. A USB MIDI keyboard works too.

Your instrument is the controller.

ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.

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