F#m7 Guitar Chord
F# Minor 7th · also written Gbm7 · F#–A–C#–E
F#m7 is the F# minor 7th chord: F#–A–C#–E. Its sound is mellow and soulful — softer than a plain minor chord, at home in funk, R&B, and jazz ii–V–I progressions. It's also written as Gbm7 — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
F#m7 softens the F# minor triad with a ♭7 (E). It's the standard ii chord in E 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 F#m7 is the em7 shape at the 2nd fret (2 4 2 2 2 2, 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 F#m7: 6 Voicings
Frets are listed from the low E string to the high E string. x = don't play that string, 0 = open string.
F#m7 Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 | ♭7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Note | F# | A | C# | E |
F#m7 is built from the F# minor scale.
F#m7 Chord FAQ
What notes are in the F#m7 chord?
F#m7 contains 4 notes: F# (R), A (♭3), C# (5), E (♭7). The interval formula for a minor 7th chord is R–♭3–5–♭7.
What is the easiest way to play F#m7 on guitar?
Use the em7 shape at the 2nd fret: 2 4 2 2 2 2 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). F#m7 has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
Is F#m7 a major or minor chord?
F#m7 is built on a minor triad (F#–A–C#) with the ♭7 added, so it behaves as a minor-family chord.
Is F#m7 the same as Gbm7?
Yes. F# and Gb are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. F#m7 and Gbm7 use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the F#m7 chord?
F#m7 appears diatonically in A major (as vi), E major (as ii), and D major (as iii) — plus it's the home chord (i) of F# minor.
Related Chords
Hear yourself play F#m7
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