Article
How to Read Guitar Chord Diagrams
Learn how to read guitar chord diagrams quickly. Understand dots, numbers, Xs, Os, and finger positions so you can play any chord chart at sight.
C♯min7(♭5)/E guitar shapes
Popular fretboard positions with fingering suggestions
Showing 8 of 220 playable shapes
About the chord
C♯ minor 7th flat 5 / E (1st inversion)
The C♯ minor 7th flat 5 minor 7th flat 5 chord, also known as half-diminished, combines the diminished triad with a minor seventh B, producing a haunting, unresolved tension. It is essential in jazz harmony for its sophisticated, somber sound. With E in the bass, this voicing functions as the 1st inversion of C♯ minor 7th flat 5.
Root note: C♯
Bass note: E
Chord tones: 4
Playable shapes: 220
Chord tones
C♯EGB
Notes & Intervals
Each note below shows how the chord is built from its root. This is the theory layer underneath the fretboard shapes.
C♯ Unison (Root) 1
The root anchors the chord and defines its tonal center.
E Minor Third ♭3
This note supplies the minor color and gives the chord its darker emotional pull.
G Diminished Fifth ♭5
The flattened fifth adds tension and a restless, unstable edge.
B Minor Seventh ♭7
The minor seventh adds bluesy or jazzy tension that wants to move onward.
Related Articles
Articles that reference this chord and explain how to use it in your playing.
Article
How to Build Chords from Scratch: Guitar Chord Construction Guide
Learn chord construction step-by-step: intervals, triads, sevenths, and extensions. Build any chord from theory to fretboard.
Article
Chord Inversions on Guitar: Voicings That Sound Professional
Learn chord inversions on guitar to create smoother transitions, richer voicings, and more professional-sounding arrangements. Includes shapes and exercises.
Article
Major vs Minor Chords: Hear and Play the Difference
Understand the difference between major and minor chords on guitar. Learn the theory, hear the contrast, and practice switching between happy and sad sounds.