Chords in the Key of F♯ Minor (F#)
The key of F# minor is built on the notes F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E. 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 | F#m | F# A C# | Minor |
| ii° | G#dim | G# B D | Diminished |
| III | A | A C# E | Major |
| iv | Bm | B D F# | Minor |
| v | C#m | C# E G# | Minor |
| VI | D | D F# A | Major |
| VII | E | E G# B | 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 | F#m7 | F# A C# E |
| iiø7 | G#m7b5 | G# B D F# |
| IIImaj7 | Amaj7 | A C# E G# |
| iv7 | Bm7 | B D F# A |
| v7 | C#m7 | C# E G# B |
| VImaj7 | Dmaj7 | D F# A C# |
| VII7 | E7 | E G# B D |
Common chord progressions in F# minor
| Numerals | Chords in F# minor | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| i – VI – III – VII | F#m – D – A – E | A bright, anthemic minor progression. |
| i – iv – v | F#m – Bm – C#m | The natural-minor equivalent of the classic cadence. |
| i – VII – VI – VII | F#m – E – D – E | A modal, folk-leaning loop. |
| i – iv – VII – III | F#m – Bm – E – A | Moves toward the relative major for a lift. |
Relative major key
F# minor shares all of its notes with A major, so switching between the two changes the mood of a piece without changing a single note. See A 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 F#m, G#dim, A, Bm, C#m, D, E. 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 A 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#, A, B, C#, D, E, which gives it 3 sharps and 0 flats.