F-sharp minor chord (F#m)
The F♯ minor chord (F♯m) is a minor triad made of F♯, A and C♯: root, minor third and perfect fifth.
It is the i in F♯ minor and the vi in A major; its relative major is A major, 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 on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 2-4-4-2-2-2, barre at fret 2, with F♯ in the bass (fingers 1-3-4-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-9-11-11-10-9, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 9, with F♯ in the bass.
Notes of the F♯ minor chord on the fretboard
F♯ minor has 3 notes: F♯, A and C♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · C♯ (9)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C♯ (4) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): F♯ (4) · A (7) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C♯ (6) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · F♯ (7) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): F♯ (2) · A (5) · C♯ (9)
Formula and intervals of F♯ minor
Its formula is 1-♭3-5; in semitones from the root, 0-3-7.
- 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♯
F♯ minor on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 2-1-2-0; it sounds A, C♯, F♯ and A.
F♯ minor on piano
- Keys: F♯4, A4 and C♯5.
Inversions of F♯ minor
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F♯, A and C♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- First inversion (F♯m/A): A, C♯ and F♯, with A in the bass.
- Second inversion (F♯m/C♯): C♯, F♯ and A, with C♯ in the bass.
Keys that use F♯ minor
F♯ minor appears in 6 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| E major (4 sharps) | ii | Supertonic |
| D major (2 sharps) | iii | Mediant |
| A major (3 sharps) | vi | Submediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | i | Tonic |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | iv | Subdominant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | v | Dominant |
Progressions with F♯ minor
- Pop progression in A major (I–V–vi–IV): A – E – F♯m – D
- Pop progression starting on vi in A major (vi–IV–I–V): F♯m – D – A – E
- Turnaround in A major (I–vi–ii–V): A – F♯m – Bm – E
- Minor cadence in F♯ minor (i–iv–V7): F♯m – Bm – C♯7
- Minor pop progression in F♯ minor (i–VI–III–VII): F♯m – D – A – E
F♯ minor or G♭ minor?
F♯ minor (F♯m) and G♭ minor (G♭m) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written G♭ minor in flat keys and F♯ minor in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F♯ minor chord?
F♯, A and C♯: root, minor third and perfect fifth. Its formula is 1-♭3-5.
Which keys use F♯ minor?
Mainly as the i in F♯ minor and the vi in A major. In total it appears in 6 major and minor keys.
Is G♭ minor the same chord as F♯ minor?
Yes: G♭ minor and F♯ minor sound the same and are played the same way. It is written G♭ minor in flat keys and F♯ minor in sharp keys.
What is the relative major of F♯ minor?
A major. F♯ minor and A major are the tonic chords of two relative keys, which share the same key signature and the same scale notes.