Chords in the Key of F Minor
The key of F minor is built on the notes F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb. Every chord below is drawn from that scale, so they all sound at home together.
The seven chords in F minor
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | Fm | F Ab C | Minor |
| ii° | Gdim | G Bb Db | Diminished |
| III | Ab | Ab C Eb | Major |
| iv | Bbm | Bb Db F | Minor |
| v | Cm | C Eb G | Minor |
| VI | Db | Db F Ab | Major |
| VII | Eb | Eb G Bb | Major |
Seventh chords in F minor
Adding the next third on top of each triad gives the seventh chords of the key — the harmonic vocabulary most jazz and soul writing starts from.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i7 | Fm7 | F Ab C Eb |
| iiø7 | Gm7b5 | G Bb Db F |
| IIImaj7 | Abmaj7 | Ab C Eb G |
| iv7 | Bbm7 | Bb Db F Ab |
| v7 | Cm7 | C Eb G Bb |
| VImaj7 | Dbmaj7 | Db F Ab C |
| VII7 | Eb7 | Eb G Bb Db |
Common chord progressions in F minor
| Numerals | Chords in F minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | Fm – Db – Ab – Eb | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | Fm – Bbm – Cm | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | Fm – Eb – Db – Eb | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | Fm – Bbm – Eb – Ab | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
F minor shares all of its notes with Ab major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See Ab major.
Scale reference
See the full F Natural Minor scale for its fingering, key signature, degrees and step pattern.
Other scales for this key: F harmonic minor, F melodic minor, F minor pentatonic and F blues.
Other keys
Frequently asked questions
What chords are in the key of F minor?
The key of F minor contains Fm, Gdim, Ab, Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb. These are the triads built on each degree of the F minor scale.
What is the relative major of F minor?
The relative major of F minor is Ab major. Both keys use exactly the same notes but resolve to a different tonic.
How many sharps or flats does F minor have?
The F minor scale is spelled F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, which gives it 0 sharps and 4 flats.