Fm7 Guitar Chord
F Minor 7th · F–Ab–C–Eb
Fm7 is the F minor 7th chord: F–Ab–C–Eb. Its sound is mellow and soulful — softer than a plain minor chord, at home in funk, R&B, and jazz ii–V–I progressions.
Fm7 softens the F minor triad with a ♭7 (Eb). It's the standard ii chord in Eb major — the first chord of the ii–V–I, jazz's most important progression — and a staple of funk vamps and R&B ballads.
The most common way to play Fm7 is the em7 shape at the 1st fret (1 3 1 1 1 1, low E string to high E string). Below you'll find 6 ways to play it across the neck, from open position to barre and shell voicings, with the theory behind the chord and the progressions it lives in.
How to Play Fm7: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Fm7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | F | Ab | C | Eb |
Fm7 is built from the F minor scale.
Fm7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Fm7 chord?
Fm7 contains 4 notes: F (R), Ab (♭3), C (5), Eb (♭7). The interval formula for a minor 7th chord is R–♭3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play Fm7 on guitar?
Use the em7 shape at the 1st fret: 1 3 1 1 1 1 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Fm7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is Fm7 a major or minor chord?
Fm7 is built on a minor triad (F–Ab–C) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
What keys use the Fm7 chord?
Fm7 appears diatonically in Ab major (as vi), Eb major (as ii), and Db major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of F minor.
Related Chords
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