F♯m Chord on Guitar
Notes F♯ A C♯. Start with the 4-string F♯m (x x 4 2 2 2), then the Em-shape barre at fret 2.
Chord · F♯m minor
Easy F♯m (4 strings) · x x 4 2 2 2
movable, no open strings
Em-shape barre (fret 2) · 2 4 4 2 2 2
barre, movable
Dm-shape, 4 strings (fret 4) · x x 4 6 7 5
movable, no open strings
Am-shape barre (fret 9) · x 9 11 11 10 9
barre, movable
1 F♯♭3 A5 C♯
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 3 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 4
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 2
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 4
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 3 (G): index (1), fret 2
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 6
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 7
- String 1 (high e): middle (2), fret 5
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 9
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 9
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 11
- String 3 (G): pinky (4), fret 11
- String 2 (B): middle (2), fret 10
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 9
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from F♯ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | root |
| ♭3 | A | minor 3rd |
| 5 | C♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 ♭3 5 (minor). Same chord as G♭m: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written F#m, F#min, F sharp minor, G♭m, G flat minor.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as F♯m
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
Em shape + capo 2
Dm shape + capo 4
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with F♯m
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ minor i–VI–III–VII | F♯m – D – A – E | |
| F♯ minor i–VII–VI–VII | F♯m – E – D – E | |
| A major I–V–vi–IV | A – E – F♯m – D | |
| A major I–vi–IV–V | A – F♯m – D – E | |
| B minor i–iv–v–i | Bm – Em – F♯m – Bm |
Keys that contain F♯m
| Key | F♯m is the |
|---|---|
| F♯ minor | i |
| B minor | v |
| C♯ minor | iv |
| A major | vi |
| E major | ii |
| D major | iii |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing F♯m: what goes wrong
F♯m in A, E and D
F♯m is the vi chord of A major, the ii of E major and the iii of D major. A, F♯m, D, E is a common progression in A.
The barre at fret 2
In 2 4 4 2 2 2 the index barres all six strings at fret 2; the ring and pinky fret strings 5 and 4 at fret 4. Strings 3, 2 and 1 rest on the index alone, so keep it right behind the fret wire and roll it slightly onto its edge.
Capo 2 and an Em shape
With a capo on fret 2 the open Em shape sounds as F♯m. That only works if the other chords of the song are also played as shapes relative to the capo.
Related chords
Learn and practise F♯m
- Metronomepractise the change to F♯m at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in F♯m?
F♯, A, C♯: the 1, ♭3, 5 of the F♯m minor chord. G♭m is the same chord spelt with a flat.
What is the easiest F♯m chord?
x x 4 2 2 2: index flat across strings 3, 2 and 1 at fret 2, ring finger on string 4 at fret 4. Strings 5 and 6 are not played.