Also written F♯m or F♯min
F♯ minor is built from F♯, A, and C♯. The open A string rings against the fretted notes, giving this beginner shape a bright, ringing tone.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
F♯ minor uses the formula 1, ♭3, 5, so the minor 3rd between F♯ and A gives the chord its dark quality. The perfect 5th from F♯ to C♯ keeps it stable. Compare it with F♯ major, where the 3rd is raised to A♯.
F♯ minor is the vi chord in A major, as in the progression A–E–F♯ minor–D (I–V–vi–IV). It also fits F♯ minor pentatonic lines over an F♯ 5th chord. Use it for rock, pop, and ballads.
The default F♯min/C♯ inversion puts C♯ in the bass, which gives a lighter color. For a root position, use the 4th fret voicing with F♯ as the lowest note.
F♯ minor is played in open position as 2 1 2 0: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the C string at fret 1 and ring finger on the E string at fret 2. The A string rings open.
Tip — The fingers must fret three separate strings while the open A string rings through, requiring clean finger placement.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (♭3) |
F♯ minor is played at the 1st fret as 2 1 2 4: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 2 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (♭3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 4 | C♯ (5) |
F♯ minor is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 5 4: ring finger on the G string at fret 6, pinky finger on the C string at fret 6, middle finger on the E string at fret 5 and index finger on the A string at fret 4.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 2 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
F♯ minor is played at the 9th fret as 11 9 9 9: barre your index finger across fret 9 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 1 (barre) | A (♭3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
F♯ minor is played in open position as 6 6 5 0: middle finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 6 and index finger on the E string at fret 5. The A string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 1 | A (♭3) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (♭3) |
F♯ minor is written as F♯m, F♯min, F♯−, or F♯mi. The ASCII root is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
F♯ minor has an A, while F♯ major has an A♯. That one semitone changes the chord from minor to major.
Yes, the open position 6-6-5-0 uses separate fingers and includes an open A string.