Notes and intervals of F♯ minor
- F♯1 · root
- A♭3 · minor third
- C♯5 · 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 F♯m
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?
F♯m 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 (F♯m) 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 2: 2 4 4 2 2 2 (from the 6th to the 1st string). Barre fret 2 with your index finger, from the 6th through the 1st string. Finger 3 (ring finger) on fret 4 of the 5th string (A). Finger 4 (pinky) on fret 4 of the 4th string (D).
Is F♯m the same as G♭m?
Yes: F♯ minor and G♭ minor sound the same and are played the same way (they are enharmonic). The spelling depends on the key of the song; you'll see both names in sheet music and songbooks.
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 makes the chord sound darker (minor) or brighter (major).
How do you write F-sharp minor as a chord symbol?
It's written F♯m; you'll also see F♯min or F♯-. Letter notation uses these note names: C = do, D = re, E = mi, F = fa, G = sol, A = la, and B = si.