Scales to Play Over C#m7b5

Every chord is a subset of several scales: any scale that contains all of a chord's tones fits over it. Pick a chord to see the matching scales from its own root, the major keys the chord belongs to, and full fretboard diagrams for every scale on guitar.

A C#m7b5 chord contains the notes C# – E – G – B. Any scale that includes every one of those 4 tones fits over it — from the root C#, that means C# Blues, C# Locrian, C# Half Whole Diminished and C# Gypsy Major. Start with the first scale listed: it is the most common choice, and the others color the same chord tones differently.

C#m7b5 is also diatonic to one major key: D major (relative minor Bm). In a song from one of those keys you can also solo with the key's own major scale or its relative minor pentatonic across the whole progression, not just this chord.