F minor chordFm

Built from

• Froot
• A♭minor 3rd
• C5th

Lowering the 3rd by one fret is the only difference from major, and it changes the whole mood.

Hear it in a progression

• Epic minor

  Film scores and stadium anthems. In F minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Fmi
  2. D♭VI
  3. A♭III
  4. E♭VII

• Minor cadence

  Dark, then a strong pull home. In F minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Fmi
  2. B♭miv
  3. C7V7
  4. Fmi

• Andalusian cadence

  Flamenco and surf rock, stepping down. In F minor.

  Capo and transpose

  1. Fmi
  2. E♭VII
  3. D♭VI
  4. CV

Where it goes next

Thinking in F minor, where it is the i chord.

• D♭

  VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.

• B♭m

  iv. Goes darker still.

• E♭

  VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.

• A♭

  III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

• C♯maj7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have F, A♭ and C.

• A♭

  Its relative major: same key, brighter. Both have A♭ and C.

• C♯

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F and A♭.

• C♯7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have F and A♭.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• F minor
• F minor pentatonic
• F blues
• F dorian
• F phrygian
• F harmonic minor

Keys it lives in

• F minoras i
• B♭ minoras v
• C minoras iv
• A♭ majoras vi
• E♭ majoras ii
• D♭ majoras iii