stringery

F♯ minor

Natural minor, also called aeolian. Minor family

Sad, serious, the classic minor sound.

Root position3 of 5

571012

Square: the root. In colour: the flat 6th, the note that gives this scale its sound.

Built from

  1. F♯RW
  2. G♯2H
  3. A♭3W
  4. B4W
  5. C♯5H
  6. D♭6W
  7. E♭7W

The flat 3rd makes it minor, and the flat 6th is what makes it sound sad rather than just dark.

Between the notes: W is a whole step (2 frets), H a half step (1 fret), and 1½ a step and a half (3 frets).

On the whole neckF♯ minor

12345GCEA5710122♭345♭6♭7R5♭6♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭345♭6♭7♭345♭6♭7R2♭3
12345GCEA5710122♭345♭6♭7R5♭6♭7R2♭34♭7R2♭345♭6♭7♭345♭6♭7R2♭3

Position 3 is outlined, frets 6 to 9. Pick another window to move there.

Ring the notes of a chord

Chords in this scale

The F♯ minor key

Build a chord on every note of the scale and you get these seven. Songs in this key mostly use them.

  1. F♯mi
  2. G♯dimii°
  3. AIII
  4. Bmiv
  5. C♯mv
  6. DVI
  7. EVII

Its neighbours on the circle of fifths Capo and transpose

Play it over

Chords this scale sounds good over, most natural first.

Same notes, different home

  • A major

    Same notes, but home is A: bright, familiar, resolved.

  • B dorian

    Same notes, but home is B: minor but hopeful. cool and groovy.

  • E mixolydian

    Same notes, but home is E: major and laid-back, with swagger.

  • D lydian

    Same notes, but home is D: floating, magical, wide-eyed.

  • C♯ phrygian

    Same notes, but home is C♯: dark, spanish, menacing.