F#m Guitar Chord
F# Minor · also written Gbm · F#–A–C#
F#m is the F# minor chord: F#–A–C#. Its sound is dark and emotional — the melancholic counterpart to major, built on the flat 3rd. It's also written as Gbm — same notes, same shapes, different spelling.
F#m is the relative minor of A major, so the two share every note and swap constantly in songs. You'll also find it as the ii chord in E major and the vi chord in A major — the emotional pivot of countless pop progressions.
The most common way to play F#m is the e-shape minor at the 2nd fret (2 4 4 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#m: 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#m Chord Theory
| Interval | R | ♭3 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Note | F# | A | C# |
F#m is built from the F# minor scale.
F#m Chord FAQ
What notes are in the F#m chord?
F#m contains 3 notes: F# (R), A (♭3), C# (5). The interval formula for a minor chord is R–♭3–5.
What is the easiest way to play F#m on guitar?
Use the e-shape minor at the 2nd fret: 2 4 4 2 2 2 (frets listed from the low E string to the high E string, x = don't play that string). F#m has no open-position shape in standard tuning, so this movable form is the standard starting point.
What is the difference between F#m and F#?
One note: the 3rd. F# major uses the major 3rd (Bb) while F# minor flattens it to A. That half-step is the entire difference between the bright minor sound and the darker major sound.
Is F#m the same as Gbm?
Yes. F# and Gb are enharmonic equivalents — the same pitch written two ways. F#m and Gbm use identical shapes and frets; which spelling you see depends on the key of the song.
What keys use the F#m chord?
F#m 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#m
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