How to Play The F#m Guitar Chord | F Sharp Minor Lesson

Introduction to the F#m guitar chord

In this beginner’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the F#m guitar chord (F sharp minor).

You’ll look at 3 chords diagrams, learn the finger placement step-by-step, and learn the theory behind the chord.

F#m guitar chord diagrams

Standard F#m shape

The standard F#m shape is played in the 2nd position. It’s a barre chord, so make sure you understand them before you try it!

Here’s how to play the standard F#m shape, step-by-step:

1. Place your first finger on the 2nd fret, low E string
2. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret, A string
3. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret, D string. At this point, your shape will resemble a power chord.
4. Barre your index finger at the 2nd fret across the rest of the strings.

Easy F#m shape

Looking for a simplified, easier way to play the 2nd position F#m guitar chord? This is arguably the easiest way to play the F#m chord, without sacrificing too much of the lower range.

1. Using your index finger, barre the 2nd frets of the G,B, and high E strings. Remember, try to use the bony side of your finger to play the barre, and practice the barre by itself before adding more fingers.
2. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the D string.
3. Strum the D,G,B, and high E strings. Make sure you don’t hit the Low E or A strings.

Easiest F#m (without barring)

If you just can’t get down that pesky barre, you can use this F#m shape. It’s not a very creative sounding version of the chord, but it does work!

This is how you play the F#m chord without barring:

1. Place your ring finger on the 2nd fret, high E string
2. Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret, B string
3. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret, G string

F#m barre chord variation

Moving away from the second position of the fretboard, you can find lots of F#m chord variations.

The most popular F#m variation is arguably the barre chord shape at the 9th fret of the A string. It’s based on the open A minor chord shape.

Here’s how to play it:

1. Place your middle finger on fret 10 of the B string
2. Place your pinky finger on fret 11 of the G string
3. Place your ring finger on fret 11 of the D string. By this point you will have an A minor shape.
4. Place your index finger on the fret 9 of the A string.
5. Barre your index finger so it hits fret 9 of the high E string. You don’t need to emphasize the barre on the strings in-between. Focus your barre’s energy on the 9th fret A and high E.
6. Strum the high 5 strings on guitar, leaving out the low E string.

Understanding the F#m guitar chord

Now that you understand how to play the F#m chord, you can learn how it’s constructed.

F#m Chord Notes

The notes in an F#m chord are: F#-A-C#

Writing F#m

This chord can be written/ shown as:

F#m – F#min – F# minor – F sharp minor

F Sharp Minor Chord Intervals

1	3	5
F#	A	C#

Keys with the F#m chord

These are the 3 minor keys with an F#m chord:

1. F# minor
2. B minor
3. C# minor

Conclusion: Practicing the F#m guitar chord

Learning to play the F#m guitar chord was the first step, and now it’s time to put it into practice!

Take any of the keys with the F# minor chord, and play progressions in those keys that use the F#m chord.

You can also seek out popular songs that use the chord. Heck, that may have been what brought you to this lesson in the first place.

Cheers, and happy playing!