Piano chords · Minor chord
F♯m piano chord (F♯ minor)
F♯m (also written G♭m) is a minor chord with 3 notes. It sounds darker, more wistful. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
F♯ – A – C♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of F♯m
F♯m is built from 3 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5):
- F♯, the root
- A, the minor third
- C♯, the fifth
F♯ and C♯ are black keys, so keep your hand slightly further in, towards the fallboard, to reach them without stretching.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 3 on A, 5 on C♯.
- Left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A, 1 on C♯.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | F♯ – A – C♯ |
| 1st inversion | A – C♯ – F♯ |
| 2nd inversion | C♯ – F♯ – A |
Where F♯m belongs
F♯m is the ii chord in E major, the iii chord in D major and the vi chord in A major, and the home chord of F♯ minor. Its relative major is A, which shares two of its notes.
F♯ is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (A becomes A♯), which turns it from dark to bright.
Hear it in a progression
F♯m – D – A – E: i – VI – III – VII, a classic minor-key progression.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the F♯m chord?
F♯m (F♯ minor) is made of F♯, A and C♯: the root, minor third and fifth.
How do you play F♯m on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F♯, 3 on A, 5 on C♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A, 1 on C♯.
What's the difference between F♯m and F♯?
F♯ is the same chord with the middle note a half step higher (A becomes A♯), which turns it from dark to bright.