Looking for Fm?
Fbm guitar chord: see the fingering, compare positions, and hear it before you play.
P - m - i - m · Alternating Folk (4/4 · 4 notes · Level 1)
The 1st string repeats the E of the 6th. This pattern leaves it out. All 6 arpeggios
Alternating picking with steady pulse.
Fbm is built from Fb, Abb and Cb. Fb is the root, Abb the minor third and Cb the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are F flat, A double flat and C flat.
From the low string to the high one you hear Fb, Cb, Fb, Abb, Cb and Fb. Of the six strings you play, three give Fb, the note that names the chord. The lowest and highest notes are both Fb, two octaves apart, on strings 6 and 1.
Fbm lets four strings ring open. String 6 gives Fb, string 3 gives Abb, string 2 gives Cb and string 1 gives Fb. Every finger presses at fret 2. The second shape on this page starts at fret 7.
Fb is one change away. String 3 is pressed at fret 1, bringing in Ab, the major third of Fb. The change that keeps the most fingers still is to B7. One stays in place. It can also be written Em, and it sounds the same.
You will find Fbm in five different keys. In G major it is the vi, in D major the ii and in C major the iii. The rest appear in the key list.
Fb 1Abb ♭3Cb 5
Root Bass (Fundamental String)6th String (Low E) • Fret 0 (E)
String Control (Muted & Active)6 / 6 • Active and muted strings status indicator
Placement tip: Press: 5th String (A) at fret 2 with your Middle finger, 4th String (D) at fret 2 with your Ring finger. Play open: 6th String (Low E), 3rd String (G), 2nd String (B), 1st String (High E).
Placement tip: Barre fret 7. Press: 4th String (D) at fret 9, 3rd String (G) at fret 9, 2nd String (B) at fret 8. Don't play: 6th String (Low E).
| Item | In this chord |
|---|---|
| Frets | fret 2 |
| Fretting fingers | 2 |
| Open | 6th, 3rd, 2nd, and 1st |
| Muted | none |
The open 6th and 3rd strings sit next to a fretting finger.
Listen: Fbm → B7 · Bm · B
Fbm sits in the scale of 5 keys.
The questions that come up most when playing this chord
To play the Fbm chord on guitar, all 6 strings are played from the 6th string (Low E) to the 1st string (High E). Arch your finger joints perpendicular to the fretboard so adjacent strings ring clearly.
The primary bass note of the Fbm chord is its lowest pitch: E. In standard guitar tuning (EADGBe), this bass note is located on string 6 at fret 0.
When strumming or fingerpicking, strike this string first.
The Fbm chord is constructed using the 1 - ♭3 - 5 formula (Minor Triad). Its constituent pitches are Fb, Abb, Cb.
To prevent the Fbm chord from buzzing or sounding muted, press the strings using the tips of your fingers at a strict 90-degree hammer angle. Position each finger immediately behind the fret wire with your thumb centered behind the neck.
Thanks for studying with CifraLab
If this chord helped you, support us with a coffee on Ko-fi.
