Notes and intervals of F minor
- F1 · root
- A♭♭3 · minor third
- C5 · perfect fifth
It shows up in ballads, boleros, pasillos and almost all popular music; in a major key it's usually the relative chord or the second degree.
Progressions with Fm
Minor with a dominant: i – iv – V7 – i
The V7 comes from the harmonic minor scale and is typical of boleros, pasillos and ballads.
Modern minor: i – VI – III – VII
A very common progression in pop and rock, in F natural minor.
Which keys contain F minor?
Fm belongs to 6 keys: in each one it plays a different role depending on the degree (the Roman numeral).
| Key | Degree |
|---|---|
| D♭ major | iii |
| E♭ major | ii |
| A♭ major | vi |
| C natural minor | iv |
| F natural minor | i |
| B♭ natural minor | v |
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F minor chord?
F minor (Fm) has 3 notes: F (root), A♭ (minor third), C (perfect fifth).
How do you play F minor on guitar?
The most common shape uses a barre at fret 1: 1 3 3 1 1 1 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 1 with your index finger, from the 6th to the 1st string. Place finger 3 (ring) on fret 3 of the 5th string (A). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 3 of the 4th string (D).
What is the difference between F minor and F major?
Only the third changes: F minor uses A♭ and F major uses A. That note is what makes the chord sound darker (minor) or brighter (major).
How do you write F minor as a chord symbol?
It is written Fm; you may also see Fmin or F-. Letter notation uses C, D, E, F, G, A and B for the notes.