Piano chord
C♯m7♭5C sharp half-diminished
- C♯1
- E♭3
- G♭5
- B♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play C♯m7♭5 on piano
- Find C♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on C♯, 2 on E, 3 on G, 5 on B.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on C♯, 4 on E, 3 on G, 1 on B.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · C♯ – E – G – B
1st inversion · E – G – B – C♯
2nd inversion · G – B – C♯ – E
3rd inversion · B – C♯ – E – G
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
C♯m7♭5 inversions
C♯m7♭5 can be played in 4 positions. In root position C♯ is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
- 1st inversionbass: ERight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: GRight hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: BRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with C♯m7♭5
The other chords of D major, the key where C♯m7♭5 is home (viiø7). Songs in this key move between them.
C♯m7♭5 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays C♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays C♯–E–G–B.
C♯m7♭5 on other instruments
About the C♯m7♭5 chord
C sharp half-diminished has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G (♭5), B (♭7). A half-diminished chord: a diminished triad with the flat seventh. It is the ii chord in minor keys and leads to the dominant.
Put your thumb on C♯ and count up: C♯ – E – G – B. The whole chord spans 10 semitones from bottom to top. That fits inside an octave, so one hand covers C♯m7♭5 without stretching.
The inversions of C♯m7♭5 keep the same notes in a new order. In the 1st inversion the bass is E (E–G–B–C♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is G (G–B–C♯–E). In the 3rd inversion the bass is B (B–C♯–E–G).
C♯m7♭5 is C♯dim with one note added: B.
C♯m7♭5 belongs to D major (viiø7), B minor (iiø7).
Questions
What notes are in the C♯m7♭5 chord?
C♯m7♭5 (C sharp half-diminished) has 4 notes: C♯ (1), E (♭3), G (♭5), B (♭7).
How many inversions does C♯m7♭5 have?
C♯m7♭5 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (C♯–E–G–B); 1st inversion (E–G–B–C♯); 2nd inversion (G–B–C♯–E); 3rd inversion (B–C♯–E–G).
What is the difference between C♯m7♭5 and C♯dim?
C♯m7♭5 is C♯dim with one note added: B.
Can I play C♯m7♭5 with one hand?
Yes. In root position C♯m7♭5 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.