F♯ half-diminished 7th chord on piano
F♯m7♭5 is a half-diminished 7th chord built on F♯. It uses the notes F♯ - A - C - E and sounds moody and searching; it often leads to a dominant chord. It is also written as G♭ half-diminished 7th.
- Notes
- F♯ A C E
- Formula
- 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7
- Right hand fingering
- 1 - 2 - 3 - 5
- Left hand fingering
- 5 - 3 - 2 - 1
- Chord symbol
- F♯m7♭5
How to play F♯m7♭5 step by step
- Find F♯. F♯ is the first black key in each group of three. The same key is also called G♭.
- Add A, 3 half steps above F♯.
- Add C, 6 half steps above F♯.
- Add E, 10 half steps above F♯.
- Press all 4 keys together with fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 of your right hand. Keep your wrist level and let the weight of your arm do the work.
F♯m7♭5 inversions
An inversion uses the same notes in a different order. Inversions let your hand move less between chords, which is how pianists make chord changes sound smooth.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F♯ half-diminished 7th chord?
The F♯ half-diminished 7th chord (F♯m7♭5) contains 4 notes: F♯, A, C, E. Its formula is 1 - ♭3 - ♭5 - ♭7.
How do you play F♯m7♭5 on piano?
Put your right-hand thumb on F♯ and play F♯, A, C, E together using fingers 1 - 2 - 3 - 5. With the left hand, use fingers 5 - 3 - 2 - 1.
Is F♯ half-diminished 7th the same as G♭ half-diminished 7th?
Yes. F♯ half-diminished 7th and G♭ half-diminished 7th use exactly the same piano keys. The name you see depends on the key signature of the piece.