F Minor guitar chord
How to play F Minor on guitar — the notes F, A♭, C, a shape you can tap to hear, the keys it lives in, and a progression to hear it in context. Free.
The shape
Tap the diagram to hear F Minor strummed. F Minor is played as a barre chord around fret 1: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
The notes in F Minor
A minor chord is spelled from its root up: F (R), A♭ (♭3), C (5). Those are the only notes in F Minor — play them in any order, in any octave, and it's still F Minor.
What a minor chord is
In plain terms, a minor chord lowers the third of a major chord by one fret (a half step), giving root, flat third and fifth — one small change, a completely different mood.
How it's used: It's the home (i) of a minor key and the ii, iii and vi of a major key. That vi is the 'sad turn' in countless pop songs.
The sound: Darker, wistful, serious — the default 'sad' chord. Where you'll hear it: Minor-key songs, the emotional dip in major-key pop, film scores, metal.
Hear F Minor in a progression
As the i chord of a minor key, in a i–iv–V–i (with the V played major for a stronger pull home). Press play, and drag the Key control to move it anywhere.
Keys that use F Minor
F Minor appears naturally in these keys — click any to see all seven of its chords and how F Minor fits in:
Other F chords
minor chords on other roots
Chords and their spellings are shared facts of music theory. Every diagram and sound here is generated by ThunderFret's own engine — no tabs, lyrics or recordings are reproduced.
Open F Minor in the interactive tool to see every place it sits on the neck, hear it, and find the shape that fits your hand — free.
See F Minor on the fretboardFrequently asked
What notes are in F Minor?
F Minor is made of 3 notes: F (the R), A♭ (the ♭3), C (the 5).
How do you play F Minor on guitar?
F Minor is played as a barre chord around fret 1: lay a finger across the strings at that fret and build the shape on top. Movable, so the same grip works up and down the neck.
What key is F Minor in?
F Minor is a diatonic chord in 6 keys, including the iii of D♭ major. See all of them below.