F Minor Guitar Chord (Fm)
F minor is a three-note chord built from F (the root), A♭ (the minor third), and C (the perfect fifth). It sets a serious, minor-key mood — dark without being unstable. It is a workhorse in pop and rock progressions of every era. Below are 4 ways to play it in standard tuning, easiest shape first.
Fm chord shapes — standard tuning
How to play it
Lay your index finger flat across all six strings at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this Fm shape. Then add your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3 and your ring finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3. Strum all six strings.
Once that shape is comfortable, try the other 3 voicings above — same notes, different neck positions and textures.
Notes in this chord
| Symbol | Interval | Note |
|---|---|---|
| R | root | F |
| ♭3 | minor third | A♭ |
| 5 | perfect fifth | C |
Keep exploring
Other tunings
Open the interactive chord charts to see Fm in open G, drop D, DADGAD, and more tunings.
More F chords
Nearby minor chords
Fm FAQ
What notes are in Fm?
Fm contains F, A♭, and C — the root (F), the minor third, and the perfect fifth.
Is Fm a barre chord?
The most common Fm shape (1-3-3-1-1-1) is a barre chord — your index finger bars fret 1 across 6 strings. There is no standard open-position shape for this chord in standard tuning, but the diagrams above include every practical alternative up the neck.
What is the easiest way to play Fm on guitar?
Start with the barre · 1fr shape 1-3-3-1-1-1. Lay your index finger flat across all six strings at fret 1 — that barre is the backbone of this Fm shape. Then add your middle finger on the A (5th) string at fret 3 and your ring finger on the D (4th) string at fret 3. Strum all six strings.