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F♯ minor 7th chord on bass (F♯m7)
Also called or written F♯m7 or F♯min7
F♯ minor 7th contains F♯, A, C♯, and E. The 2nd-fret shape requires a pinky stretch to the 4th fret, testing left-hand flexibility on bass.
How it is built
Formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7
- Root positionF♯–A–C♯–EF♯m72-4-2-2
- First inversionA–C♯–E–F♯F♯m7/Ano shape on this instrument
- Second inversionC♯–E–F♯–AF♯m7/C♯9-9-7-9
- Third inversionE–F♯–A–C♯F♯m7/E12-12-11-11
How do you play an F♯ minor 7th chord on bass?
F♯ minor 7th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 2 2: index finger on the E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the A string at fret 4, middle finger on the D string at fret 2 and ring finger on the G string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (D) | 2 | 2 | E (♭7) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 3 | A (♭3) |
AdvancedThe pinky must reach the 4th fret on the A string while the other fingers hold the 2nd fret, requiring a wide stretch and precise finger placement.
F♯m7/C♯ inversion
F♯ minor 7th is played at the 7th fret as 9 9 7 9: middle finger on the E string at fret 9, ring finger on the A string at fret 9, index finger on the D string at fret 7 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 9 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (A) | 9 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (G) | 9 | 4 | E (♭7) |
F♯m7/E inversion
F♯ minor 7th is played at the 11th fret as 12 12 11 11: ring finger on the E string at fret 12, pinky finger on the A string at fret 12, index finger on the D string at fret 11 and middle finger on the G string at fret 11.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 12 | 3 | E (♭7) |
| 3 (A) | 12 | 4 | A (♭3) |
| 2 (D) | 11 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (G) | 11 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ minor 7th is built from the formula 1, ♭3, 5, ♭7. The minor 7th interval from F♯ to E gives the chord its mellow, unresolved character. Compare it with F♯ minor, which omits the E.
What goes wrong with F♯ minor 7th?
- Letting the pinky flatten and mute the 2nd string.
- Allowing the ring finger to touch the 1st string and damp the C♯.
- Strumming before the pinky is fully fretted, causing a buzz on the 3rd string.
When to use it
F♯ minor 7th functions as the vi chord in A major, appearing in progressions like A–E–F♯m–D (I–V–vi–IV). It suits rock and pop, often paired with A major and D major.
Changing to and from F♯ minor 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives F minor 7th.
- From F♯ minor 7th, move the pinky from the 4th fret to the 5th fret on the A string to form G minor 7th.
Which voicing to use
Use the 2nd-fret voicing for a root-position F♯ minor 7th with a low F♯. The F♯m7/C♯ inversion at the 9th fret places the fifth in the bass for a smoother sound, while the F♯m7/E inversion at the 12th fret puts the seventh in the bass for a descending line.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ minor 7th written?
F♯ minor 7th is written as F♯min7 or F♯m7. The ASCII root is F#, so it is often typed as F#m7. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ minor 7th and F♯ minor?
F♯ minor 7th adds the note E, a minor 7th above F♯, to the F♯ minor triad. The added seventh gives the chord a more relaxed, jazzy quality.
Can F♯ minor 7th be played in an open position?
No, the root F♯ is on the 2nd fret of the E string, so the default voicing is fretted. The F♯m7/C♯ inversion at the 9th fret uses higher frets but still requires fretting all strings.
Why is the F♯m7/E inversion useful?
The F♯m7/E inversion places the seventh, E, in the bass, creating a smooth descending bass line when moving to D major or C♯ minor.