F minor seventh chord (Fm7)
The F minor seventh chord (Fm7) is a minor seventh chord: a minor triad with a minor seventh on top, F, A♭, C and E♭ (root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh).
It is the ii7 in E♭ major and the vi7 in A♭ major; its relative is A♭ major seventh, and C dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play F minor seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 1-3-1-1-1-1, barre at fret 1, with F in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-8-10-8-9-8, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 8, with F in the bass.
Notes of the F minor seventh chord on the fretboard
F minor seventh has 4 notes: F, A♭, C and E♭. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F (1) · A♭ (4) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
- String 5 (A): C (3) · E♭ (6) · F (8) · A♭ (11)
- String 4 (D): E♭ (1) · F (3) · A♭ (6) · C (10)
- String 3 (G): A♭ (1) · C (5) · E♭ (8) · F (10)
- String 2 (B): C (1) · E♭ (4) · F (6) · A♭ (9)
- String 1 (E): F (1) · A♭ (4) · C (8) · E♭ (11)
Formula and intervals of F minor seventh
Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7-10.
- F: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- A♭: Minor third (m3), 3 semitones above F
- C: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above F
- E♭: Minor seventh (m7), 10 semitones above F
F minor seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 1-3-1-3, barre at fret 1; it sounds A♭, E♭, F and C.
F minor seventh on piano
- Keys: F4, A♭4, C5 and E♭5.
Inversions of F minor seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F, A♭, C and E♭, with F in the bass.
- First inversion (Fm7/A♭): A♭, C, E♭ and F, with A♭ in the bass.
- Second inversion (Fm7/C): C, E♭, F and A♭, with C in the bass.
- Third inversion (Fm7/E♭): E♭, F, A♭ and C, with E♭ in the bass.
Keys that use F minor seventh
F minor seventh appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| E♭ major (3 flats) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| D♭ major (5 flats) | iii7 | Mediant |
| A♭ major (4 flats) | vi7 | Submediant |
| F minor (4 flats) | i7 | Tonic |
| C minor (3 flats) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| B♭ minor (5 flats) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with F minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in E♭ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): Fm7 – B♭7 – E♭maj7
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F minor seventh chord?
F, A♭, C and E♭: root, minor third, perfect fifth and minor seventh. Its formula is 1-♭3-5-♭7.
Which keys use F minor seventh?
Mainly as the ii7 in E♭ major and the vi7 in A♭ major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
What is the relative of F minor seventh?
A♭ major seventh: they share three of their four notes. In the key where A♭ major seventh is Imaj7, F minor seventh is vi7; in a major key, the minor seventh chords are ii7, iii7 and vi7.