Ways to play Fm
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in Fm
A minor chord lowers the 3rd by a half step: root, minor 3rd (three half steps) and perfect 5th. F minor is F, A♭ and C. Next to F major, the only note that moves is the 3rd, A down to A♭.
| Note | Formula | Interval from F |
|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | Root |
| A♭ | ♭3 | Minor 3rd |
| C | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Darker and more inward than major. In a major key the ii, iii and vi chords are minor; in a minor key the i and usually the iv are.
The key of F minor
Four flats, the relative minor of A♭. Fm is the E-shape minor barre at the 1st fret, a little harder than F because the barre itself has to hold down the minor 3rd.
The seven chords built from the F minor scale:
Songs in F minor
- Hello, Adele
Keys that use Fm
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of F, A♭ and C, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | Fm is the |
|---|---|
| F minor | i |
| C minor | iv |
| B♭ minor | v |
| E♭ major | ii |
| A♭ major | vi |
| D♭ major | iii |
Progressions to try
i–iv–v in F minor
Minor-key blues and folk. Swap the v for a major V when you want a stronger pull home.
i–VI–III–VII in F minor
The minor-key cousin of I–V–vi–IV: the same four chords, started from the minor one.
Related chords
The relative major is A♭, which shares its key signature. The parallel major is F, same root with the 3rd raised.
Other chords on F: