Fm Guitar Chord
F Minor · F–Ab–C
Fm is the F minor chord: F–Ab–C. Its sound is dark and emotional — the melancholic counterpart to major, built on the flat 3rd.
Fm is the relative minor of Ab major, so the two share every note and swap constantly in songs. You'll also find it as the ii chord in Eb major and the vi chord in Ab major — the emotional pivot of countless pop progressions.
The most common way to play Fm is the e-shape minor at the 1st fret (1 3 3 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 Fm: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
Fm Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | F | Ab | C |
Fm is built from the F minor scale.
Fm Chord FAQ
What notes are in the Fm chord?
Fm contains 3 notes: F (R), Ab (♭3), C (5). The interval formula for a minor chord is R–♭3–5.
What is the easiest way to play Fm on guitar?
Use the e-shape minor at the 1st fret: 1 3 3 1 1 1 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). Fm has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
What is the difference between Fm and F?
One note: the 3rd. F major uses the major 3rd (A) while F minor flattens it to Ab. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright minor sound and the darker major sound.
What keys use the Fm chord?
Fm 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
Hear yourself play Fm
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