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Guitar chords · Minor

Fm chord on guitar

Fm (F minor) has three notes: F, A♭ and C, the , ♭3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play Fm

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

Fm has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 1

    R5R♭35RFCFA♭CF

  • A shape · fret 8

    8fr×R5R♭35FCFA♭C
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes Fm minor

A minor chord lowers the 3rd of the major chord by a . That one note gives it its darker, sadder colour.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The ♭3rd makes Fm a minor chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. FRroot
  2. A♭♭3essential
  3. C5optional
EADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFA♭CCA♭CA♭CA♭CA♭CA♭CA♭C
  • F, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with Fm

Fm belongs to six keys: D♭ major (iii), A♭ major (vi), E♭ major (ii), B♭ minor (v), F minor (i) and C minor (iv).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with Fm

Common progressions that use Fm, each in a key that spells it Fm. The outlined chord is Fm.

  • The pop axis in A♭ major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. A♭
    2. E♭
    3. Fm
    4. D♭

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • '50s doo-wop in A♭ major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. A♭
    2. Fm
    3. D♭
    4. E♭

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in F minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Fm
    2. D♭
    3. A♭
    4. E♭

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in F minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Fm
    2. E♭
    3. D♭
    4. C

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

Fm over another bass note

A keeps Fm on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • Fm/A♭

    Fm with its ♭3rd, A♭, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • Fm/C

    Fm with its 5th, C, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • Fm/E♭

    Fm over E♭, a passing bass a below the , as in Fm, Fm/E♭, Fm/D, D♭.

  • Fm/D

    Fm over D, a passing bass a major 6th above the , as in Fm, Fm/E♭, Fm/D, D♭.

Same root

Other chords on F

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

Fm, in short

What notes are in the Fm chord?
Fm (F minor) has three notes: F, A♭ and C, the , ♭3 and 5.
How do you play Fm on guitar?
Fm has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8.
What key is Fm in?
Fm belongs to six keys: D♭ major (iii), A♭ major (vi), E♭ major (ii), B♭ minor (v), F minor (i) and C minor (iv).
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