F Minor Chord (Fm) on Piano
The Fm chord (F minor) is built from 3 notes: F – Ab – C.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from F | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | root | 0 |
| Ab | b3 | minor 3rd | 3 |
| C | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | F – Ab – C | F in the bass |
| 1st inversion | Ab – C – F | Ab in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | C – F – Ab | C in the bass |
How the minor chord is built
Every minor chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), b3 (3 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on F and applying that formula produces F, Ab, C. Learn the formula once and you can build a minor chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain Fm
Every note of Fm belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on F
Minor chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a Fm chord?
A Fm chord contains the notes F, Ab, C. Those are the 1, b3, 5 degrees measured from the root note F.
How do you play Fm on piano?
Place your thumb on F, then add Ab and C above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.