FretWijzer.nl
Menu
← All keys

F♯ minor (F♯m) on guitar

The F♯ minor scale consists of the notes F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E and has 3 sharps. Below you can see every usable note on the neck up to fret 15.

F♯ minorNatural minor scale

♪ Click a note on the fretboard to hear its sound.

E
B
G
D
A
E
0123•45•67•89•101112••131415•
Root noteOther notes
Click a note to hear it · frets 0–15

Chords in F♯ minor

Common progression: F♯m – D – A – E (i–VI–III–VII).

Quick overview

Root note
F♯
Mode
minor
Key signature
3 sharps
Pentatonic
F♯ A B C♯ E
Relative key
A major

Well-known songs in F♯ minor

  • Billie JeanMichael Jackson
  • Crazy TrainOzzy Osbourne
  • Dance MonkeyTones and I
  • Immigrant SongLed Zeppelin
  • The Final CountdownEurope
  • WonderwallOasis

Key of the original recording; live versions or covers may differ.

CAGED positions

With the CAGED system you play F♯m in five positions across the whole neck. Each shape connects to the next.

  • Em shapearound fret 2 · root on low E string, fret 2
  • Dm shapearound fret 4 · root on D string, fret 4
  • Cm shapearound fret 6 · root on A string, fret 9
  • Am shapearound fret 9 · root on A string, fret 9
  • Gm shapearound fret 11 · root on low E string, fret 14

Learn F♯ minor in 5 steps

  1. Step 1

    Find the root note F♯

    Find F♯ on the low E string (fret 2) and on the A string (fret 9). Play them alternately and say the name out loud. Every pattern below hangs off these two points.

  2. Step 2

    Play the main chords

    Learn the three most important chords: F♯m (i), Bm (iv) and C♯m (v). Switch between them at a slow tempo until you can play through without stopping.

  3. Step 3

    Learn the pentatonic in box 1

    The minor pentatonic (F♯ A B C♯ E) is the first pattern to learn. Put your index finger around fret 2 and play two notes per string, from the low E to the high e and back.

  4. Step 4

    Extend to the full scale

    Add the two missing notes (G♯ and D) in the same position. Now you're playing all seven notes of Fis mineur: F♯ G♯ A B C♯ D E.

  5. Step 5

    Improvise over a chord progression

    Record F♯m – D – E – F♯m (or ask someone to play it) and solo over it using box 1. End your phrases on F♯ and listen to how that "coming home" sounds.

Playing F♯ minor with a capo

Go to the capo guide

Solo tips for F♯ minor

  1. Start with the minor pentatonic scale (F♯ A B C♯ E). The best-known "box" pattern starts on the root F♯ on the low E string, fret 2.
  2. End your phrases on the root F♯ for a resolved feeling, or on the third A and fifth C♯ for tension.
  3. Add the blue note C as a passing note for a bluesy sound — don't linger on it too long.
  4. Over the C♯m chord (the v) deliberately play the notes of that chord to make the chord changes audible.
  5. Want a more classical, "Spanish" sound? Raise the 7th degree to E♯ (harmonic minor), especially over the V chord.

Frequently asked questions about F♯ minor

Which notes are in Fis mineur?

Fis mineur (F♯m) consists of the notes F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E. The key signature has 3 sharps.

Which chords fit Fis mineur?

The diatonic chords in Fis mineur are F♯m, G♯dim, A, Bm, C♯m, D, E. You can freely combine them; they all sound good within the key.

What is the relative key of Fis mineur?

The relative key is A major. It uses exactly the same notes and key signature, just with a different tonal centre.

Which pentatonic scale do you use in Fis mineur?

Use the minor pentatonic scale: F♯, A, B, C♯, E. It avoids the "tricky" half-step intervals and almost always sounds good.

How do I find F♯ on the guitar neck?

You'll find the root F♯ on the low E string at fret 2 and on the A string at fret 9, among other places.