F Minor Scale
The F minor scale (also called F natural minor or F Aeolian) contains F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb. Its key signature has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
| Note | F | G | Ab | Bb | C | Db | Eb | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
F minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to Db. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
F minor has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db. Its relative major is Ab major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of F minor and of Ab major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | 0 |
| 2 | G | 2 |
| b3 | Ab | 3 |
| 4 | Bb | 5 |
| 5 | C | 7 |
| b6 | Db | 8 |
| b7 | Eb | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in F Natural Minor
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in F Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Fm | F Ab C |
| 2 | ii° | Gdim | G Bb Db |
| 3 | III | Ab | Ab C Eb |
| 4 | iv | Bbm | Bb Db F |
| 5 | v | Cm | C Eb G |
| 6 | VI | Db | Db F Ab |
| 7 | VII | Eb | Eb G Bb |
Other modes on F
More scales on F
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F Natural Minor scale?
The F Natural Minor scale contains F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, then returns to F an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the F minor scale on piano?
Going up from F to F, the right hand plays 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in F minor?
F minor has 4 flats: Bb, Eb, Ab and Db.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the F Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are Fm, Gdim, Ab, Bbm, Cm, Db, Eb. Each is built only from notes of the F Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.