F♯ minor chordF♯m

Built from

• F♯root
• Aminor 3rd
• C♯5th

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. F♯mi
  2. DVI
  3. AIII
  4. EVII

• Minor cadence

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

  Capo and transpose

  1. F♯mi
  2. Bmiv
  3. C♯7V7
  4. F♯mi

• Andalusian cadence

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

  Capo and transpose

  1. F♯mi
  2. EVII
  3. DVI
  4. C♯V

Where it goes next

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

• D

  VI. Opens up into something bittersweet.

• Bm

  iv. Goes darker still.

• E

  VII. Steps down: a rock and folk staple.

• A

  III. Brightens into the relative major.

Sounds close

• Dmaj7

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

• A

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

• D

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

• Cdim7

  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