Fm chord (F minor) on bass
Fm (F minor) has three notes: F, A flat and C. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, Fm is the ii chord in Eb major, the iii in Db major and the vi in Ab major.
How to play Fm on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 1 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | Fm |
|---|---|
| Also written | Fmin, F- |
| Notes | F Ab C |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
Fm across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (1), fret 4 Ab (flat 3), fret 8 C (5), fret 13 F (1), fret 16 Ab (flat 3), fret 20 C (5).
- A string: fret 3 C (5), fret 8 F (1), fret 11 Ab (flat 3), fret 15 C (5), fret 20 F (1), fret 23 Ab (flat 3).
- D string: fret 3 F (1), fret 6 Ab (flat 3), fret 10 C (5), fret 15 F (1), fret 18 Ab (flat 3), fret 22 C (5).
- G string: fret 1 Ab (flat 3), fret 5 C (5), fret 10 F (1), fret 13 Ab (flat 3), fret 17 C (5), fret 22 F (1).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the Fm chord?
Fm (F minor) has three notes: F, A flat and C. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. F is the root, Ab is the minor third and C is the perfect fifth.
How do you play Fm on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 b10, root on the E string, fret 13. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is Fm in?
In major keys, Fm is the ii chord in Eb major, the iii in Db major and the vi in Ab major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between Fm and F?
Fm has a minor 3rd, Ab. F major raises it a half step to A. The root and 5th stay the same.