Ways to play F♯m
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 F♯m
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
Three sharps, the relative minor of A. F♯m is the E-shape minor barre at the 2nd fret; A, D and E around it are open.
The seven chords built from the F♯ minor scale:
Songs in F♯ minor
- Wonderwall, Oasis (Em shapes with a capo on the 2nd fret)
Keys that use F♯m
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of F♯, A and C♯, and the chord's Roman numeral in each.
| Key | F♯m 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♯: