B Half-diminished Guitar Arpeggio
Guitar arpeggio — fretboard diagram
B Half-diminished Arpeggio — Notes and Intervals
Notes: B, D, F, A
Intervals: 1P, 3m, 5d, 7m
Formula: WH-WH-2W
Number of notes: 4
Also known as: m7b5, ø, -7b5, h7, h
The B Half-diminished arpeggio contains 4 notes (B, D, F, A). Use the interactive fretboard diagram above to explore each arpeggio shape and pattern on Guitar. Practice ascending and descending from the root note across all strings to learn the sound of this arpeggio.
When to Use the B Half-diminished Arpeggio
Play the B Half-diminished arpeggio whenever a B Half-diminished chord appears in a progression. Unlike scales (which include passing tones), arpeggios guarantee every note you play IS a chord tone, making your solo sound harmonically precise and intentional.
Arpeggio vs. Scale
The B Half-diminished arpeggio uses 4 notes (B, D, F, A) while the full scale uses 7. The arpeggio is a subset — think of it as the skeleton of the scale. Practice alternating between the arpeggio and the full scale to develop a melodic vocabulary that mixes chord tones with passing tones.
How to Play B Half-diminished Arpeggio on Guitar
Root your B Half-diminished arpeggio at fret 7 on the 6th (low E), or alternatively at 2nd fret on the A string. This 4-note arpeggio (B, D, F, A) benefits from economy picking, combining sweep and alternate picking motions. Practice isolating two-string pairs to build coordination before linking the full shape.
The B Half-diminished arpeggio creates a tense, unstable sound built from minor thirds. It works over Bdim, Bdim7, Bm7b5 chords and is often used as a passing device to create dramatic tension before resolving to a stable chord.
Practice Routine — Exercises for Playing
Practice the B Half-diminished arpeggio in different octaves, starting low and working up. Then try displacing the octaves — play the root low, the D an octave higher, and continue leaping. This trains your ear to hear the intervals (1P, 3m, 5d, 7m) in any register.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, practice the B Half-diminished arpeggio using string skipping — jump over a string between each note to create wider intervals. This technique produces a more pianistic, open sound compared to sweep picking and develops precise right-hand accuracy.
Related Resources
- Harmonize B Half-diminished
- Browse Chord Progressions
- Interactive Circle of Fifths
- B Half-diminished on Bass
Explore B Half-diminished in Other Tunings
- B Half-diminished in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Half-diminished in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- B Half-diminished in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- B Half-diminished in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- B Half-diminished in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- B Half-diminished in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- B Half-diminished in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- B Half-diminished in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- B Half-diminished in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- B Half-diminished in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- B Half-diminished in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- B Half-diminished in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- B Half-diminished in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- B Half-diminished in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)