Learn › F Sharp Half-Diminished Chord on Piano (F#m7b5)
New Released in April 2026
F Sharp Half-Diminished Chord on Piano (F#m7b5)
F sharp half-diminished 7th (F#m7b5) is spelled F# - A - C - E. It sounds like F#dim with an extra E, the note that gives it its dark, unresolved colour. Here you will find its inversions, both hands and the chords it belongs with.
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- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Four ways to play F#m7b5
In the 3rd inversion E is the lowest note: the seventh in the bass.
Root position: F# A C E
1st inversion: A C E F#
2nd inversion: C E F# A
3rd inversion: E F# A C
How to play F#m7b5 on the piano
| Hand | F# | A | C | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 (thumb) | 2 | 3 | 5 (little) |
| Left hand | 5 (little) | 3 | 2 | 1 (thumb) |
Land all four fingers at once. If E is quieter, the little finger is too flat.
A three-note F#m7b5
Leave out the third (A) and keep F# C E. The flat fifth carries the half-diminished sound and the hand stays compact.
F#m7b5 compared with the other 7th chords on F#
One note changes and the chord gets a new name.
Learning F#m7b5 step by step
- Play F#, A, C, E slowly in root position and say "F#m7b5" each time.
- Climb the four positions: F# A C E, then A C E F#, C E F# A and E F# A C, and back down.
- Play it in its ii-V-I, F#m7b5 → B7 → Em, four beats per chord.
- Then mix it with chords you already know, in an order you do not choose: that is where it sticks.
A few minutes every day on F#m7b5 beat one long session a week.
Train F#m7b5 in a game
Knowing F#m7b5 on paper is step one. ChordRunner makes you find it fast, mixed with other chords. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
Play the demoCommon questions
How do you play F#m7b5 on the piano?
Press F#, A, C, E together. Right hand 1, 2, 3, 5 with the thumb on F#; any octave and any order of those notes is still F#m7b5.
What are the inversions of F#m7b5?
Root position F# A C E, 1st inversion A C E F#, 2nd inversion C E F# A and 3rd inversion E F# A C. Every position is still F#m7b5.
Where does F#m7b5 go?
F#m7b5 is the iiø7 of E minor and the viiø7 of G major. In a minor ii-V-i it opens the cadence: F#m7b5 → B7 → Em.
Can I practise F#m7b5 with a MIDI keyboard?
Yes. In ChordRunner a USB MIDI keyboard is detected automatically, and an acoustic piano works through the microphone. F#m7b5 counts in any inversion, as long as F#, A, C, E sound together.
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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