F♯m7 chord on guitar

F♯m7 is F♯, A, C♯ and E. The usual shape is 2-4-2-2-2-2, a barre at the 2nd fret. Tap Play, then slow it down.

2-4-2-2-2-2 · barre · medium

Notes: F♯ · A · C♯ · E
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5 · ♭7
First shape: 2-4-2-2-2-2

How to play F♯m7 on guitar

Shape 1, 2-4-2-2-2-2, reading from the low E string on the left, starts at the 2nd fret:

Barre the 2nd fret with your index finger, covering all the strings.
Put your middle finger on the A string at the 4th fret, which is C♯.

If one string buzzes under the barre, it is usually sitting in a crease of your finger. Slide the barre up or down a few millimeters until it rings.

Other ways to play F♯m7

x-x-4-2-2-0: open shape at the 2nd fret, easy. Fewer strings, so it sounds lighter and is quicker to change to.
x-9-11-9-10-9: barre shape at the 9th fret, medium. This is the open Am7 shape with a barre behind it, root on the 5th string.
14-12-14-x-14-x: movable shape at the 12th fret, medium. A small shape for quick changes and a lighter sound.

Playing F♯m7 with a capo

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 2nd fret and play the open Em7 shape (0-2-2-0-3-0), capo on the 4th fret and play the open Dm7 shape (x-x-0-2-1-1) or capo on the 7th fret and play the open Bm7 shape (x-2-0-2-0-2). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from F♯m7 to the chords around it

These are the changes you'll meet most often with F♯m7, using the first shape of each chord.

B7 (V in E major): F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2) to B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2): the index finger goes to the D string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the A string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the G string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the high E string, 2nd fret. Everything moves: lift the whole hand and place the new shape in one go. Shared notes: F♯ and A. B7 on guitar
Amaj7 (IV in E major): F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2) to Amaj7 (x-0-2-1-2-0): your index finger lands on the G string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the D string, 2nd fret, the ring finger comes down on the B string, 2nd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for A, C♯ and E, which stay put while the rest moves. Amaj7 on guitar
Emaj7 (I in E major): F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2) to Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0): your index finger lands on the D string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the G string, 1st fret, the ring finger comes down on the A string, 2nd fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. Listen for E, which stays put while the rest moves. Emaj7 on guitar

F♯m7 is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad plus a minor seventh. F♯m7 is the easy-going minor, common as the ii chord right before a dominant seventh. On guitar you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

A short F♯m7 drill

Arpeggiate 2-4-2-2-2-2 from the lowest string: F♯, C♯, E, A, C♯, F♯. Then strum it and listen for the same 6 notes together. Then switch to x-x-4-2-2-0 and back four times without looking at your hand.

You may also see it as G♭m7; nothing changes on the guitar.

F♯m7 in context

In E major, ii–V–I on guitar is F♯m7 (2-4-2-2-2-2), B7 (x-2-1-2-0-2) and Emaj7 (0-2-1-1-0-0). About the jazz cadence.

F♯m7 on piano and ukulele

Switching instruments? Try F♯m7 on ukulele or F♯m7 on piano, or compare them on the F♯m7 chord page.

Close to F♯m7

Other minor seventh chords

F♯m7 on guitar: questions

What notes are in F♯m7 on guitar?

F♯, A, C♯ and E. In the 2-4-2-2-2-2 shape the strings play F♯ (low E string), C♯ (A string), E (D string), A (G string), C♯ (B string) and F♯ (high E string), so F♯ and C♯ are doubled.

What's the easiest way to play F♯m7 on guitar?

x-x-4-2-2-0. It uses open strings, so there is no barre to press.

Is F♯m7 a barre chord on guitar?

Usually, yes. 2-4-2-2-2-2 has your index finger across the 2nd fret. x-x-4-2-2-0 avoids the barre.

Which string does F♯m7 start on?

In the 2-4-2-2-2-2 shape the lowest string you play is the low E string at the 2nd fret, which is F♯, the root.

Checked automatically: no shape here plays a note outside F♯m7. Updated September 2026.