Guitar chord · Intermediate (barre)
F minor chord (Fm) — guitar chord chart
Fm is a minor chord built on F. Its notes are F, A♭, C. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour.
Fm chord charts
Numbers = fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little). ○ open string, × don’t play. Low E string on the left.
How to play Fm
- Lay your index finger flat across fret 1, from the 6th string to the 1st string (the barre).
- Ring (3) on the 5th string, fret 3 (C).
- Little finger (4) on the 4th string, fret 3 (F).
- Strum all six strings.
- Pick the strings one at a time: each note should ring clearly — if one buzzes, move that finger closer to the fret.
No barre yet? Put a capo on fret 1 and play the open Em shape — it sounds as Fm. Work out other positions with the capo calculator.
Notes in Fm
| Degree | Note | Interval |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | root |
| ♭3 | A♭ | minor 3rd |
| 5 | C | perfect 5th |
Progressions with Fm
Drill these changes with the chord-change trainer and read how to change chords faster.
FAQ
- What notes are in the Fm chord?
- Fm (F minor) has 3 notes: F, A♭, C.
- Is Fm hard to play?
- It’s a barre chord, but with a capo on fret 1 you can use the open Em shape instead. Expect a few weeks of practice for a clean barre.
- What’s the difference between Fm and F?
- F is F A C. Lowering the 3rd by a half step gives minor chords their darker, more melancholic colour.