Which Chord is this?

[hpeterh]

Hi,

Taken from a Yamaha learning book (Lake Louise by Yuhki Kuramoto)

. . -5
Bm7 on F
(Ignore the dots, I used them to force some space)

Bm7 has the Notes B,D,F#,A so far I know.

I am unsure about the "-5". I think, that means a diminished 5th and that would probably be a "F".

So should I play F,B,D,A? (leaving out the F#)

What do you think?

TIA,

Peter

[ericho]

Hi

Maybe this site is helpful

http://chordmaps.com/chartmaps.htm

Kind regards

Eric

[johnnykeyboard]

Hi Peter,
Yes, leave out the F#. The chord is a B minor 7th with a flat 5th. If the 7th was flat, it would be a diminished 7th. The B D F is definitely a diminished triad, but when the seventh (of the minor scale) is added it is commonly called a half diminished. When the 7th is also lowered....then it is a diminished 7th. I wouldn't play F B D A but rather B D F A or F A B D. If you are playing the chord with your left hand, reach over and play a low G with your right hand and the chord becomes a G9. Same notes but a different root. Low G then B D F A. Just remember that a major triad is always made up of a major 3rd and a minor 3rd. And a minor triad is always made up with a minor 3rd and a major 3rd. Then add your 7ths, 5ths, (flat, reg, or augmented '#'). Keep this rule in mind and you can build any chord starting from any note, black or white. Then you can invert the notes to fit your hand and keep the same chord, although sometimes it sounds too open or close.

Have fun .......Johnny Keyboard........

[hpeterh]

Yes, leave out the F#. The chord is a B minor 7th with a flat 5th. If the 7th was flat, it would be a diminished 7th. The B D F is definitely a diminished triad, but when the seventh (of the minor scale) is added it is commonly called a half diminished. When the 7th is also lowered....then it is a diminished 7th. I wouldn't play F B D A but rather B D F A or F A B D.


Thank you, Johnnykeyboard.
Now I understand the nomenclature in the Yamaha scoresheet.

I looked here: http://www.pianolessonsunlimited.com/lessons/pianochords/chords.html
and they call it Bm7b5.
I think, there is no common rule for the voicing.
(Ok, there is one rule that I learned - the lower notes need more open voicing than the higher notes)
I want to play the chord in a broken-chord style and F must be the lowest note to maintain the bass melody line. The best voicing depends on fingering and on the preceding and following chords I choose this by taste, so far my playing skills permit this :cool:

BTW, I just found the best chord finder online:
http://www.looknohands.com/chordhouse/piano/
It shows the fingering and shows the naming where more than one naming-scheme is supported.
It is also possible to hear the chord's sound, cool - isnt it?





brgds,

Peter