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Fm7 chord on guitar

Fm7 (F minor seventh) is F, A♭, C and E♭. It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written 131111. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 3rd fret.

Fm7

F minor seventh · F A♭ C E♭ · 1 ♭3 5 ♭7

  • 1st fret

    Barre chord, root on the 6th string

    131111FCE♭A♭CF

    131111

  • 8th fret

    Barre chord, root on the 5th string

    8fr13121FCE♭A♭C

    x-8-10-8-9-8

Or pick another chord to see and hear it

Root
Chord

Dots show where each finger goes, numbered 1 (index) to 4 (little); the green ones are F, the root.

How to play Fm7

Strings are counted from the thinnest: the 1st is the high E and the 6th the low E. Each shape is written as tab from the 6th string to the 1st, a number for the fret to press, 0 for an open string and x for one not played.

  1. 1. Barre chord, root on the 6th string · 1st fret

    131111
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 1st fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 3rd fret.

  2. 2. Barre chord, root on the 5th string · 8th fret

    x-8-10-8-9-8
    • Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across the 5th to 1st strings at the 8th fret.
    • Put your 2nd finger (middle) on the 2nd string, 9th fret.
    • Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 4th string, 10th fret.
    • Don't play the 6th string: strum from the 5th.

Notes in the Fm7 chord

Fm7 is F, A♭, C and E♭, and it sounds mellow and smooth, the everyday chord of R&B, soul and lo-fi. From F, count 3 half steps up to A♭, 4 more to C and 3 more to E♭. Its formula is 1 ♭3 5 ♭7. The shapes above play these notes in different orders and octaves, some more than once, but always with F lowest. See its inversions and keys on the Fm7 piano chord page.

Chords that often come after Fm7

B♭7x13131Fm7 to B♭7 is ii7 to V7, the first half of jazz’s ii–V–I.D♭maj7x46564Fm7 to D♭maj7 is i7 to VImaj7, the lift R&B and lo-fi loops are built on.Gm7353333Fm7 to Gm7 is ii7 to iii7, one step up in the same key.

More guitar chords

Other chords on F

FFmF7Fmaj7Fsus2Fsus4Fadd9F9F6FdimFm7♭5Fdim7Faug

Minor seventh chords on other notes

Cm7C♯m7Dm7E♭m7Em7F♯m7Gm7G♯m7Am7B♭m7Bm7

Or see every chord at once on the guitar chord chart.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Fm7 on guitar?

It has no open shape, so it is played as a barre chord, most often the one at the 1st fret, written 131111. Lay your 1st finger (index) flat across all six strings at the 1st fret. Put your 3rd finger (ring) on the 5th string, 3rd fret.

What notes are in the Fm7 chord?

Fm7 is F, A♭, C and E♭. In the shape written 131111, the 6th to 1st strings play F, C, E♭, A♭, C and F.

Is Fm7 a barre chord?

Usually, yes: it has no open shape. The barre at the 1st fret (131111) is the one most players use; the same shape moved to another fret plays another root.

How many ways can you play Fm7 on guitar?

This page shows two: 131111 (1st fret) and x-8-10-8-9-8 (8th fret). Any chord can be played in more places up the neck; these are the ones chord books show first.

Can I make a beat with Fm7?

Yes. “Make a beat in F minor” opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F minor on Fm D♭ A♭ E♭, the key where Fm7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account is needed to start.

Make a beat in F minor

Opens the free editor with a lo-fi beat in F minor on Fm D♭ A♭ E♭, the key where Fm7 is the i7 chord. Then change any part, add a melody and your voice, part by part. No account needed to start.

Make a beat in F minorAll guitar chords

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