Chords in the key of F minor
The key of F minor has four flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭). Its seven chords are Fm, Gdim, A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭ and E♭. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
Fm is home. B♭m (iv) moves away from it. The natural-minor chord on the fifth degree is Cm (v), which pulls only gently. Using C (V) or C7 (V7) raises the 7th to E, as in harmonic minor, for a stronger return to Fm. D♭ (VI) and E♭ (VII) give minor keys their big, open rock and film sound.
Key signature
F minor has four flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭), written at the start of every line so you don't have to mark them on each note. Flat keys add one flat per step counterclockwise around the circle of fifths: F minor sits between C minor and B♭ minor.
The notes of the key are the F natural minor scale: F G A♭ B♭ C D♭ E♭. Relative major: A♭ major (same notes). Parallel major: F major (same starting note).
Progressions in F minor
Every progression below is spelled out in F minor. The player starts with the minor anthem.
In F minor, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- iFm
- VID♭
- IIIA♭
- VIIE♭
| Progression | In F minor | |
|---|---|---|
| i–VI–III–VII the minor anthem | Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ | |
| i–iv–V the minor cadence | Fm – B♭m – C – Fm | |
| i–VII–VI–V the Andalusian cadence | Fm – E♭ – D♭ – C | |
| i–VII–VI–VII the epic minor loop | Fm – E♭ – D♭ – E♭ |
Borrowed dominants: leaning into other chords of F minor
Any chord in F minor can get its own V7. It isn't in the key, but it points straight at the chord that follows.
- V7 of III
- V7 of iv
- V7 of v
- V7 of VI
- V7 of VII
Borrowing from F major
Minor-key songs often take chords from F major, the parallel major: B♭ (IV), F (I) and Gm (ii). The major IV gives a brighter, Dorian lift, and ending a minor piece on the major I is the old "Picardy third".
Seventh chords in F minor
The F minor seventh chords: Fm7, Gm7♭5, A♭maj7, B♭m7, Cm7, D♭maj7 and E♭7. With the borrowed major V it becomes C7.
Playing in F minor on guitar
F minor is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 1st fret with E minor shapes or capo 3rd fret with D minor shapes. Barre chords work too.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of F minor: questions
What chords are in the key of F minor?
Fm, Gdim, A♭, B♭m, Cm, D♭ and E♭. As numerals: i = Fm, ii° = Gdim, III = A♭, iv = B♭m, v = Cm, VI = D♭, VII = E♭. Most songs in F minor also use C (major V) in place of Cm.
How many sharps or flats are in F minor?
Four flats (B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭).
What is the relative major of F minor?
A♭ major. Same notes, same signature, a different home chord (A♭).
What are the i, iv and V chords in F minor?
Fm (i), B♭m (iv) and C (V, borrowed from the harmonic minor). Those three chords are enough for thousands of songs.
How do I play in F minor on guitar with a capo?
Capo 1st fret, then play E minor shapes (Em, C, G, D); they sound as Fm, D♭, A♭, E♭.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of F minor; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.