Chord F Minor (Fm)

Fm takes three keys, F, Ab and C. F is the root, Ab the minor third and C the fifth. Said aloud, its notes are F, A flat and C. In Fm, Ab sits on a black key and F and C on white keys.

Counting semitones in Fm, F to Ab is three and Ab to C is four. With A4 at 440 Hz, this position sounds F4 at 349.23 Hz, Ab4 at 415.3 Hz and C5 at 523.25 Hz.

With the right hand, you build Fm by playing F with the thumb, Ab with the middle finger and C with the little finger. From F4 to C5 the hand spans seven semitones.

In the first inversion, F moves up an octave and the lowest note becomes Ab, the minor third. The fingers are 1 - 2 - 5. The second inversion starts on C, the fifth, and ends on Ab. The fingers are 1 - 3 - 5.

From Fm to F only one key changes. Ab moves up a semitone to A. Fm and Ab have two notes in common, Ab and C.

You will find Fm in five keys. In Ab major it is the vi, in Eb major the ii and in Db major the iii.