F#m chord (F sharp minor) on bass
F#m (F sharp minor) has three notes: F sharp, A and C sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. In major keys, F#m is the ii chord in E major, the iii in D major and the vi in A major.
How to play F#m 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 | F#m |
|---|---|
| Also written | F#min, F#- |
| Notes | F# A C# |
| Formula | 1 b3 5 |
| Intervals | root, minor third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Minor chord |
F#m across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (1), fret 5 A (flat 3), fret 9 C# (5), fret 14 F# (1), fret 17 A (flat 3), fret 21 C# (5).
- A string: fret 0 A (flat 3), fret 4 C# (5), fret 9 F# (1), fret 12 A (flat 3), fret 16 C# (5), fret 21 F# (1), fret 24 A (flat 3).
- D string: fret 4 F# (1), fret 7 A (flat 3), fret 11 C# (5), fret 16 F# (1), fret 19 A (flat 3), fret 23 C# (5).
- G string: fret 2 A (flat 3), fret 6 C# (5), fret 11 F# (1), fret 14 A (flat 3), fret 18 C# (5), fret 23 F# (1).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the F#m chord?
F#m (F sharp minor) has three notes: F sharp, A and C sharp. Its formula is 1, b3, 5. F# is the root, A is the minor third and C# is the perfect fifth.
How do you play F#m 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 14. Fingers: 1 on E, 1 on G.
What key is F#m in?
In major keys, F#m is the ii chord in E major, the iii in D major and the vi in A major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between F#m and F#?
F#m has a minor 3rd, A. F# major raises it a half step to A#. The root and 5th stay the same.