In 1974, Dolly Parton released “I Will Always Love You” in the key of A major. Its chords follow the I–vi–IV–V pattern, the so-called ’50s progression. In A major, that sixth chord is F#m, and it gives the tune its bittersweet turn.
The F sharp minor chord, written F#m, has three notes: F#, A, and C#. Most guitarists play it as a barre chord at the 2nd fret, using the E minor shape. If a full barre still feels hard, a four-string shape near the nut is a lighter way in. Below are six diagrams, plus the theory, progressions, and fixes that make them stick.
Notes in an F#m triad
3F# (the root), A (the minor third), and C# (the perfect fifth)
What Notes Are in F# Minor?
A triad is three notes stacked in thirds, with F# as the root here. F# up to A is a minor third, or three half steps. A up to C# is a major third, or four half steps. Raise the A to A# and you get F# major (F#–A#–C#), so that middle note sets the mood.
On a chord chart, a capital letter plus a lowercase “m” means minor. The University of Puget Sound’s open theory textbook uses Alicia Keys’s “Girl on Fire” to show this. Its chart pairs F#m with A, E, and D.
F# minor’s relative major is A major. Both keys share a key signature of three sharps: F#, C#, and G#. That’s why F#m turns up so often in songs written in A.
How to Play F#m on Guitar the Easy Way
This first shape needs three fingers at the 2nd fret and no barre. Three strings ring open, which gives it a wide, shimmering sound.
- Finger 1: 6th string, 2nd fret (F#)
- Finger 2: 4th string, 2nd fret (E)
- Finger 3: 3rd string, 2nd fret (A)
- Play strings 5, 2, and 1 open (A, B, and E)
An honest note: this shape has no C#, the fifth of the chord. It adds E and B instead, so it is really an F#m11 without its fifth. It still reads as minor thanks to the F# bass and the A. Use it for gentle, ringing parts, and switch to a true F#m when the chord needs to sound full.
How to Play the F#m Barre Chord at the 2nd Fret
For a full, strummable sound, the barre chord is the standard choice. It is the open E minor shape moved up two frets, with your index finger acting like a capo. That’s why teachers call it the “E shape” or the “Em shape.”
- Finger 1: barre all six strings at the 2nd fret
- Finger 3: 5th string, 4th fret (C#)
- Finger 4: 4th string, 4th fret (F#)
- Strum all six strings
The notes from low to high are F#, C#, F#, A, C#, and F#. The A on the 3rd string is the only minor third, so make sure it rings. If it sounds dead, roll your index finger slightly toward its bony edge.
Barre Variation With the Pinky
This version keeps the same barre but shifts your fingers. Your middle and ring fingers take the 4th fret, which frees your pinky for the high E string.
- Finger 1: barre all six strings at the 2nd fret
- Finger 2: 5th string, 4th fret (C#)
- Finger 3: 4th string, 4th fret (F#)
- Finger 4: 1st string, 5th fret (A)
The pinky swaps the top F# for an A, so the minor third now sits on top. That makes the chord sound a little brighter and more open.
If you want, you could play this chord using only the top or bottom four strings.
Kate Koenig, on F#m in her Chord by Chord series for Acoustic Guitar magazine
The Am-Shape Barre at the 9th Fret
For a higher, lighter F#m, move to the 9th fret and use the A minor shape. The small “8” beside the grid means its top row is the 8th fret.
- Finger 1: barre strings 1 to 5 at the 9th fret
- Finger 2: 2nd string, 10th fret (A)
- Finger 3: 4th string, 11th fret (C#)
- Finger 4: 3rd string, 11th fret (F#)
- Mute the 6th string
Start your strum on the 5th string, where the root F# sits. Let the tip of your index finger touch the low E string lightly to keep it quiet.
beenherePractice tip: build the barre in stagesPlace fingers 3 and 4 first, then lay the barre down last. Keep your index finger close to the fret and your thumb near the middle of the neck’s back. Switch between F#m and A slowly with a metronome, then raise the tempo about 5 bpm at a time.
Easier F#m Shapes Without a Full Barre
These two voicings skip the full barre but still play a true F#m. They suit fingerpicking, higher parts, and hands that tire quickly.
Four-String Shape Near the Nut
Here, your index finger covers just two strings. Only the four highest strings sound, so the bass stays light.
- Finger 1: strings 3 and 2 at the 2nd fret (A and C#)
- Finger 3: 4th string, 4th fret (F#)
- Finger 4: 1st string, 5th fret (A)
- Mute strings 5 and 6
The stretch from the 2nd to the 5th fret feels wide at first. Drop your thumb lower on the neck and it gets easier within a few days. For an even simpler version, barre the top three strings at the 2nd fret instead of using the pinky.
Three-String Shape at the 6th Fret
This compact shape sits in the middle of the neck. The small “5” beside the grid means its top row is the 5th fret.
- Finger 1: 3rd string, 6th fret (C#)
- Finger 2: 4th string, 7th fret (A)
- Finger 4: 5th string, 9th fret (F#)
- Mute strings 1, 2, and 6
Only three strings sound, so aim your pick at the middle of the guitar. Let your free fingers rest on the high strings to keep them quiet. This shape works well for punchy rock rhythms and palm-muted parts.
Common Chord Progressions With F#m
The F# natural minor scale is F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, and E. Stack thirds on each note and you get the key’s chords: F#m, G#°, A, Bm, C#m, D, and E. Four progressions are worth practicing.
- F#m – Bm – C#m (i–iv–v): the simplest minor-key loop.
- F#m – Bm – C# (i–iv–V): raising E to E# turns C#m into C# major, which pulls hard back to F#m.
- F#m – E – D – E (i–VII–VI–VII): the pattern of “Stairway to Heaven” and “Rolling in the Deep,” moved to F# minor.
- A – F#m – D – E (I–vi–IV–V): the ’50s progression in A major, as in “I Will Always Love You.”
Bm and C#m use the Am-shape barre at the 2nd and 4th frets. That keeps your hand in one small zone while you switch.
Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Most F#m problems come from the 2nd-fret barre. Barre chords take time to sound as clean as open chords, and each problem has a simple fix.
- The 3rd string is muted. That string carries the A, so roll your index finger slightly until it rings.
- Notes buzz. Move your index finger closer to the fret wire rather than pressing harder.
- Your hand cramps. Keep your thumb near the middle of the neck’s back, opposite your first or second finger.
- Extra strings ring. On partial shapes, rest a free finger on the strings you don’t need.
Small changes to your finger angle or thumb position often fix more than extra pressure does. A guitar teacher, on Superprof or elsewhere, can spot a flat finger in seconds.
Related Chords to Learn Next
F# major differs by one note, A# instead of A. In the 2nd-fret barre, add your middle finger on the 3rd string at the 3rd fret to hear the change. Switching between the two trains your ear to hear major and minor.
F#m7 adds E, a minor seventh above the root, for a softer color. In the Em-shape barre, lift your pinky off the 4th string and let the barre play that E. Slide the Em shape up one fret for Gm, or down one fret for Fm.
Sources
- Hutchinson, Robert. "Harmonic Function." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/HarmonicFunction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hutchinson, Robert. "Introduction to Triads." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/TriadsIntroduction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hutchinson, Robert. "Summary [of Triad Construction]." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/SummaryOfTriadConstruction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hutchinson, Robert. "Lead-Sheet Symbols." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/LeadSheetSymbols.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
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- Hutchinson, Robert. "Diatonic Chords in Minor." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/DiatonicChordsInMinor.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hutchinson, Robert. "The i–VII–VI–VII Progression." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/i-VII-VI-VII.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hutchinson, Robert. "Introduction to Seventh Chords." Music Theory for the 21st-Century Classroom, University of Puget Sound. Available at: https://musictheory.pugetsound.edu/mt21c/SeventhChordsIntroduction.html. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Koenig, Kate. "Learn 6 Ways to Play F# Minor | Chord by Chord." Acoustic Guitar, 10 Apr. 2021. Available at: https://acousticguitar.com/learn-6-ways-to-play-f-minor-chord-by-chord/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
- Hamburger, David. "Acoustic Guitar Basics: A Gentle Introduction to Barre Chords." Acoustic Guitar, 23 Aug. 2023. Available at: https://acousticguitar.com/acoustic-guitar-basics-a-gentle-introduction-to-barre-chords/. Accessed 28 Sept. 2026.
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