F minor chord (Fm)
Fm is F, A♭ and C: 1–♭3–5 built on F. See and hear it on all three instruments below.
On guitar
1-3-3-1-1-1 · barre · hard
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- 1-3-3-1-1-1
Fm on guitar: every shape, finger by finger
On piano
root position · F–A♭–C · right hand 1-3-5
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
Fm on piano: fingering and inversions
On ukulele
1-0-1-3 · open · easy
- Notes
- F · A♭ · C
- Formula
- 1 · ♭3 · 5
- First shape
- 1-0-1-3
Where Fm usually goes next
Here's what the hand does on the most common changes, on guitar and on piano.
- Fm → B♭ (V in E♭ major)
Guitar: Fm (1-3-3-1-1-1) to B♭ (x-1-3-3-3-1): the index finger lays across the A to high E strings at the 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the D string at the same fret, the ring finger slides across to the G string at the same fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 3rd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared note: F.
Piano: Fm to B♭: play B♭ in 2nd inversion (F–B♭–D) and F stays under the same finger, while A♭ moves up to B♭ and C up to D. B♭ - Fm → A♭ (IV in E♭ major)
Guitar: Fm (1-3-3-1-1-1) to A♭ (4-6-6-5-4-4): the index finger lays across the low E to high E strings at the 4th fret, your middle finger lands on the G string, 5th fret, move the ring finger to the A string, 6th fret, the pinky finger comes down on the D string, 6th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for A♭ and C, which stay put while the rest moves.
Piano: Fm to A♭: play A♭ in 2nd inversion (E♭–A♭–C) and A♭ and C stay under the same fingers, while F moves down to E♭. A♭ - Fm → E♭ (I in E♭ major)
Guitar: Fm (1-3-3-1-1-1) to E♭ (x-x-1-3-4-3): your index finger lands on the D string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 3rd fret, the ring finger goes to the high E string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the B string, 4th fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit.
Piano: Fm to E♭: play E♭ in root position (E♭–G–B♭), while F moves down to E♭, A♭ down to G and C down to B♭. E♭
Guitar with a capo: capo 1, Em shape; capo 3, Dm shape. Ukulele with a capo: capo 1, Em shape; capo 3, Dm shape; capo 5, Cm shape; capo 6, Bm shape.
How Fm is built
Fm is a minor triad. It is darker and softer than F major, but not automatically sad: in a major key it often just adds color.
From F, go 3 half steps up to A♭ then 4 half steps up to C.
| Note | Role | Half steps | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | root | 0 | |
| A♭ | minor third | 3 | |
| C | perfect fifth | 7 |
Keys and progressions with Fm
In major keys, Fm is ii in E♭ major, iii in D♭ major and vi in A♭ major. In minor keys it is i in F minor, iv in C minor and v in B♭ minor.
i–VI–III–VII in F minor runs Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭. the minor anthem
Play i–iv–V in F minor and you get Fm – B♭m – C – Fm. the minor cadence
Fm – E♭ – D♭ – C: that's i–VII–VI–V in the key of F minor. the Andalusian cadence
In F minor, i–VII–VI–VII is Fm – E♭ – D♭ – E♭. the epic minor loop
Chords close to Fm
- Fm and F differ by one note: A♭ in Fm, A in F. They share F and C. F
- Fm and A♭ differ by one note: F in Fm, E♭ in A♭. They share A♭ and C. A♭
Chords that share most of their notes with Fm: C♯maj7, Dm7♭5, Fm7, Fm6, A♭6, B♭9.
Every F chord
F minor chord: questions
What notes are in the F minor chord?
F, A♭ and C. Fm is built 1–♭3–5 from F: A♭ is the minor third and C is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Fm on guitar?
The usual shape is 1-3-3-1-1-1 (barre). All 4 guitar shapes.
How do you play Fm on piano?
Play F, A♭ and C with right-hand fingers 1-3-5. F sits just left of the group of three black keys. Inversions and left hand.
How do you play Fm on ukulele?
1-0-1-3 in standard GCEA tuning. More ukulele shapes.
What key is Fm in?
In major keys, Fm is ii in E♭ major, iii in D♭ major and vi in A♭ major. In minor keys it is i in F minor, iv in C minor and v in B♭ minor.
What's the difference between Fm and F?
Fm and F differ by one note: A♭ in Fm, A in F. They share F and C.
All three instruments are drawn and played from F, A♭ and C by the same engine. Updated September 2026.