F#m7 Chord on Guitar
F#m7 = F# – A – C# – E (Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th)
F#m7 is F# minor with one finger removed rather than one added: the D string, which in the plain minor barre holds the octave root, simply comes off the fretboard and rings at the barre fret instead. That makes F#m7 arguably the single easiest four-note extended chord in this whole set — going from major or minor triad to a seventh usually means adding a finger, but here it means taking one away.
The notes are F#-A-C#-E: root, minor third, fifth, and minor seventh, with the fifth doubled. Minor-seventh chords carry a smoother, jazzier version of a minor triad's sadness — less stark than a plain minor chord, more suited to sitting comfortably in a groove than announcing grief. F#m7 is diatonic to both E major (where it's the ii chord, the classic minor-seventh chord that opens a ii-V-I) and A major (where it's the vi chord); either context is common, since both are guitar-friendly open-position keys that this barre sits conveniently near.
Fingerings
Barre (2nd fret)
How to Practice It
If F# minor is already known, this is nearly free — practice simply lifting the ring or middle finger (whichever fingers the D string in your minor barre) off the fretboard while the rest of the hand stays clamped down. Because it's genuinely easier than the triad it comes from, use F#m7 as a rest position when barre-chord stamina is fading during a practice session. Work it into a ii-V-I in E major (F#m7 – B7 – Emaj7) to hear its jazz function rather than only its pop-minor sound.
Common Progressions
- F#m7 – B7 – Emaj7 (ii – V – I in E major, a jazz turnaround)
- A – F#m7 – D – E (I – vi – IV – V in A major)
- F#m7 – E – D – E (vi – V – IV – V in A major)
- C#m7 – F#m7 – B (iii – vi-ish borrowed color – V, mixed-context vamp)
FAQ
- What changes between F# minor and F#m7?
- One finger comes off: the D string, fretted two frets above the barre for the plain minor chord's octave root, is released entirely and left to ring at the barre fret, which is the minor seventh.
- Is F#m7 easier than F# minor?
- Yes, genuinely — it requires one fewer fretted note than the plain minor barre, making it one of the rare cases on guitar where adding harmonic color also reduces the physical demand.
- Where does F#m7 fit in common guitar keys?
- It's the ii chord of E major and the vi chord of A major, two of the guitar's most frequently used open-position keys, so this exact voicing (or its open-adjacent relatives) comes up often even outside F# minor as a home key.
- How does F#m7 differ in sound from F#m (plain minor)?
- The added minor seventh smooths out the starkness of the plain minor triad, giving a mellower, jazzier minor color that suits grooves and ballads better than the more dramatic plain minor chord.
- Can F#m7 substitute for F# minor in a song?
- Often, yes — since it shares the same root, third, and fifth and simply adds a consonant extra tone, swapping F#m7 in for a plain F#m rarely clashes and frequently smooths the progression out.
F#m7 on other instruments: F#m7 on Piano, F#m7 on Ukulele. Related: how chords are built, chord finder.