F♯ half-diminished (F♯m7b5) chord on banjo

Looking for the F♯m7b5 chord on banjo? It is a half-diminished seventh chord (a diminished triad plus a minor seventh), made of four notes: F♯ – A – C – E. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ half-diminished (G♭m7b5).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 4medium

Position 7medium

Tap a string on a diagram to hear just that string. The sound is generated in your browser with a physical string model.

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What the F♯m7b5 chord sounds like

The half-diminished (m7b5) chord is a diminished triad with a minor seventh. In a minor key it sits on degree ii – the first chord of the minor ii–V–i.

Notes of the F♯m7b5 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F♯	root
3	A	minor third (3 semitones)
5	C	diminished fifth (6 semitones)
7	E	minor seventh (10 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (D): fret 2, ring finger (E4)
String 2 (B): fret 1, index finger (C4)
String 3 (G): fret 2, middle finger (A3)
String 4 (D): fret 4, little finger (F♯3)

Position 4

String 1 (D): fret 7, little finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 5, ring finger (E4)
String 3 (G): fret 5, middle finger (C4)
String 4 (D): fret 4, index finger (F♯3)

Position 7, barre at fret 7

String 1 (D): fret 7, index finger (A4)
String 2 (B): fret 7, index finger (F♯4)
String 3 (G): fret 9, ring finger (E4)
String 4 (D): fret 10, little finger (C4)

For the barre, lay your index finger flat across all the marked strings at fret 7; your other fingers press the higher frets.

Five-string banjo in open G tuning (g D G B D). The diagram shows the four long strings; the short 5th string (g) rings open – avoid it when G is not in the chord. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The F♯m7b5 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

G major: viiø7
E minor: iiø7

Similar chords and substitutes

If F♯m7b5 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

D9 – a rootless dominant ninth: the same notes over a root a major third lower
B7 – the next chord in a minor ii–V–i (V)

Same notes

Am6 – the same notes with a different root

Simpler versions

F♯dim – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯m7b5 chord?

F♯, A, C, E. The root is F♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: minor third, diminished fifth, minor seventh.

What is the easiest way to play F♯m7b5 on banjo?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 3 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

How is the F♯m7b5 chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯m7b5 (also written F#m7b5), and its full name is F♯ half-diminished.