Piano chords · Minor 7th chord
F♯m7 piano chord (F♯ minor seventh)
F♯m7 (also written G♭m7) is a minor seventh chord with 4 notes. It sounds mellow and smooth. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
F♯ – A – C♯ – E · tap any key to hear it
The notes of F♯m7
F♯m7 is built from 4 notes (1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7):
- F♯, the root
- A, the minor third
- C♯, the fifth
- E, the minor seventh
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♯, 2 on A, 3 on C♯, 5 on E.
- Left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A, 2 on C♯, 1 on E.
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♯ – E |
| 1st inversion | A – C♯ – E – F♯ |
| 2nd inversion | C♯ – E – F♯ – A |
| 3rd inversion | E – F♯ – A – C♯ |
Where F♯m7 belongs
F♯m7 is the ii7 chord in E major, the iii7 chord in D major and the vi7 chord in A major.
F♯m7 is F♯m with a minor seventh, E, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.
Hear it in a progression
F♯m7 – B7 – Emaj7: ii – V – I in E major, the backbone of jazz.
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♯m7 chord?
F♯m7 (F♯ minor seventh) is made of F♯, A, C♯ and E: the root, minor third, fifth and minor seventh.
How do you play F♯m7 on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F♯, 2 on A, 3 on C♯, 5 on E, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A, 2 on C♯, 1 on E.
How is F♯m7 different from the plain chord?
F♯m7 is F♯m with a minor seventh, E, added on top, which softens it from sad to smooth.