C#m9b5 Piano Chord: Notes, Inversions and Fingering (C Sharp Half-Diminished Ninth)

How to play C#m9b5

Find C# at or above middle C. That is the root.
Add E, G, B and D# above it, skipping the keys in between.
Right hand fingering: 1-2-3-4-5, or split the chord between both hands. Left hand: play the root and fifth, and leave the upper notes to the right hand.

Notes

C#root

Eb3 · minor third

Gb5 · diminished fifth

Bb7 · minor seventh

D#9 · ninth

Notes and theory

C#root

Eb3 · minor third

Gb5 · diminished fifth

Bb7 · minor seventh

D#9 · ninth

The m9b5 adds a ninth to a half-diminished chord, used in minor-key jazz. The formula is 1 b3 b5 b7 9.

C#m9b5 on ukulele

More C# chords

All C# piano chords

C#major C#mminor C#7dominant seventh C#m7minor seventh C#maj7major seventh C#sus4suspended fourth C#sus2suspended second C#dimdiminished C#augaugmented C#6major sixth C#9dominant ninth C#add9added ninth C#m7b5half-diminished C#dim7diminished seventh C#7sus4dominant seventh suspended fourth C#5power chord C#m6minor sixth C#m9minor ninth

half-diminished ninth chords in every key

Cm9b5 C#m9b5 Dm9b5 D#m9b5 Em9b5 Fm9b5 F#m9b5 Gm9b5 G#m9b5 Am9b5 A#m9b5 Bm9b5

Questions

What notes are in the C#m9b5 chord?

C#m9b5 (C sharp half-diminished ninth) is made of five notes: C# (root), E (minor third), G (diminished fifth), B (minor seventh) and D# (ninth).

How do you play C#m9b5 on piano?

Play C#, E, G, B and D# together. With the right hand use fingers 1-2-3-4-5, or split the chord between both hands; with the left hand use play the root and fifth, and leave the upper notes to the right hand.

What does a half-diminished ninth chord sound like?

The m9b5 adds a ninth to a half-diminished chord, used in minor-key jazz.