Fm Chord on Guitar
Notes F A♭ C. Start with the 4-string Fm (x x 3 1 1 1), then the Em-shape barre at fret 1.
Chord · Fm minor
Easy Fm (4 strings) · x x 3 1 1 1
movable, no open strings
Em-shape barre (fret 1) · 1 3 3 1 1 1
barre, movable
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 3) · x x 3 5 6 4
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 8) · x 8 10 10 9 8
barre, movable
1 F♭3 A♭5 C
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 1
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 3
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 1
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 1
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 1
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 3
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 3
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 1
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 1
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 1
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 3
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 5
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 6
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 4
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 8
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 8
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 10
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 10
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 9
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 8
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | root |
| ♭3 | A♭ | minor 3rd |
| 5 | C | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor).
Also written Fmin, F minor.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as Fm
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Em shape + capo 1
Dm shape + capo 3
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with Fm
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| F minor i–VI–III–VII | Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ | |
| F minor i–iv–v–i | Fm – B♭m – Cm – Fm | |
| A♭ major I–V–vi–IV | A♭ – E♭ – Fm – D♭ | |
| A♭ major I–vi–IV–V | A♭ – Fm – D♭ – E♭ | |
| E♭ major ii–V–I | Fm – B♭ – E♭ |
Keys that contain Fm
| Key | Fm is the |
|---|---|
| F minor | i |
| B♭ minor | v |
| C minor | iv |
| A♭ major | vi |
| E♭ major | ii |
| D♭ major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing Fm: what goes wrong
Harder than F
In the full Fm barre (1 3 3 1 1 1) the index alone frets strings 3, 2 and 1; in F the middle finger helps on string 3. Roll the index slightly onto its edge and check strings 3 to 1 one at a time.
Fm in songs in C
Fm is the "minor four" borrowed from C minor: F, then Fm, then back to C is a common move in songs in C major.
Related chords
Learn and practise Fm
- Metronomepractise the change to Fm at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in Fm?
F, A♭, C: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the Fm minor chord.
Is there an easy Fm chord?
Yes: x x 3 1 1 1. Index flat across strings 3, 2 and 1 at fret 1, ring finger on string 4 at fret 3. Or capo 1 and play an open Em shape.