F-sharp minor seventh chord (F#m7)
The F♯ minor seventh chord (F♯m7) 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: 2-4-2-2-2-2, barre at fret 2, with F♯ in the bass (fingers 1-3-1-1-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-9-11-9-10-9, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 9, 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): E (0) · F♯ (2) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
- String 5 (A): A (0) · C♯ (4) · E (7) · F♯ (9) · A (12)
- String 4 (D): E (2) · F♯ (4) · A (7) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): A (2) · C♯ (6) · E (9) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · E (5) · F♯ (7) · A (10)
- String 1 (E): E (0) · F♯ (2) · A (5) · C♯ (9) · E (12)
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): 2-4-2-4, barre at fret 2; it sounds A, E, F♯ and C♯.
F♯ minor seventh on piano
- Keys: F♯4, A4, C♯5 and E5.
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 (F♯m7/A): A, C♯, E and F♯, with A in the bass.
- Second inversion (F♯m7/C♯): C♯, E, F♯ and A, with C♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (F♯m7/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 (4 sharps) | ii7 | Supertonic |
| D major (2 sharps) | iii7 | Mediant |
| A major (3 sharps) | vi7 | Submediant |
| F♯ minor (3 sharps) | i7 | Tonic |
| C♯ minor (4 sharps) | iv7 | Subdominant |
| B minor (2 sharps) | v7 | Dominant |
Progressions with F♯ minor seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in E major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7
F♯ minor seventh or G♭ minor seventh?
F♯ minor seventh (F♯m7) and G♭ minor seventh (G♭m7) 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 seventh in flat keys and F♯ minor seventh in sharp keys.
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.
Is G♭ minor seventh the same chord as F♯ minor seventh?
Yes: G♭ minor seventh and F♯ minor seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written G♭ minor seventh in flat keys and F♯ minor seventh in sharp 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.