Guitar Keys

The Key Of F Minor For Guitar

The Key of F Minor for Guitar

The key of F minor contains the notes: – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb

notes in the key of f minor

When assembled in order the notes form the F natural minor scale. For a quick breakdown of the key differences between the natural minor, harmonic minor, and melodic minor scales click here.

If you would like to understand more about using musical keys click here.

Who does the key of F Minor use Flats and not sharps?

The key of F minor uses flats in its key signature because F minor is derived from the natural minor scale associated with the relative major key of Ab major. In music theory, relative keys share the same key signature, with the only difference being the starting note (tonic).

Ab major has four flats in its key signature (Bb, Eb, Ab, and Db). Since F minor is its relative minor, it inherits the same key signature, which includes those four flats. This relationship maintains consistency in notation and helps simplify the music theory associated with these keys.

The F Minor Scale Step Pattern

The F Minor Scale Step Pattern

The F minor scale (like all minor scales) follows the step pattern of:
wholehalfwholewholehalfwhole, whole

The F Minor Scale For Guitar

The F Minor Scale Step Pattern

The F minor scale (like all minor scales) follows the step pattern of:
whole, half, whole, whole, half, whole, whole

Keep in mind, that scales can be played in many different ways.



Chords In The Key Of F Minor

All chords within a minor key such as F minor follow a pattern of:

minor, diminished, Major, minor, minor, Major, Major

mindimMajminminMajMaj
fgAbbbcDbEb
* capitals denote major chords, lower case denotes minor chords
F Minor Chord (Fmin)
G Diminished Chord (Gdim)
A Flat Major Chord (Abmaj)
B Flat Minor Chord (Bbmin)
C Minor Chord (Cmin)
D Flat Major Chord (Dbmaj)
E Flat Major Chord (Ebmaj)
ChordNotes
F minorF, Ab, C
g diminishedG, Bb, Db
Ab MajorAb, C, Eb
bb minorBb, Db, F
c minorC, Eb, G
Db MajorDb, F, Ab
Eb MajorEb, G, Bb

7th Chords in F Minor

Seventh chords include the tonic (1st), third, fifth, and seventh scale degrees of a diatonic scale (a seven-note musical scale consisting of whole and half steps), unlike triads which contain just three notes.

The seventh chord quality (such as major, minor, diminished, or augmented.) can vary depending on the type of seventh interval used in the chord. There are several types of seventh chords, each with its unique sound and function in music.

F Minor 7 Chord (Fmin7)
G Minor 7 Flat 5 Chord (Gmin7b5)
A Flat Major 7 Chord (Abmaj7)
B Flat Minor 7 Chord (Bbmin7)
C Minor 7 Chord (Cmin7)
D Flat Major 7 Chord (Dbmaj7)
E Flat Dominant 7th Chord (Eb7)
ChordNotes
F minor 7F, Ab, C, Eb
g diminished 7G, Bb, Db, F
Ab Major 7Ab, C, Eb, G
bb minor 7Bb, Db, F, Ab
c minor 7C, Eb, G, Bb
Db Major 7Db, F, Ab, C
Eb Dominant 7 (Eb7)Eb, G, Bb, Db

Chord Function in F Minor

Chords can be categorized into three main functions: tonic, subdominant, and dominant. Tonic chords (i, VI) provide stability. Subdominant chords (iv, ii) introduce some tension but not as much as dominant chords (v, VII) which create the most tension and typically lead to a resolution.

TonicSupertonicMediantSubdominantDominantSubmediantSubtonic
iiiIIIivvVIVII
fmingdimAbmajbbmincminDbmajEbmaj
* capitals denote major chords, lower case denotes minor chords

For example, The i chord (minor tonic) serves as the central point of stability, it’s home base for the key. As it is constructed on the tonic note of the minor scale (e.g., F in the key of F minor) it provides resolution.



Alternatively, In the key of F minor, the dominant chord is c min which creates a strong pull back to the tonic chord, F minor, creating a sense of resolution when the chord progression resolves back to the tonic.

Common Chord Progressions In F Minor

i – VI – VIIfmin – Dbmaj – Ebmaj
i – VII – iv- VIfmin – Ebmaj – bbmin – Dbmaj
i – v – VI – VIIfmin – cmin – Dbmaj – Ebmaj
i – III – VII – VIfmin – Abmaj – Ebmaj – Dbmaj
i – v – iv – VIIfmin – cmin – bbmin – Ebmaj

Relative Major

The relative major refers to the major key that shares the same key signature as a minor key. In simple terms, they use the same set of notes, but their tonal centers (the tonic) are different e.g. the relative minor starts on the 6th scale degree of the relative major.

In minor keys, the relative major’s tonic note is the 3rd scale degree of the relative minor scale, meaning in the key of F minor, Ab Major is the relative major.

Ab Major is the relative major of F Minor.

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