Fm7 Chord
Fm7 combines a minor triad with E flat, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.
- Notes: F-A flat-C-E flat
- Symbol: Fm7
- ii7 in Eb major
- Minor third and flat seventh
Fm7
How to play an Fm7 chord
Notes: F - Ab - C - EbFm7
Root position
F - Ab - C - Eb1st inversion
Ab - C - Eb - F2nd inversion
C - Eb - F - Ab3rd inversion
Eb - F - Ab - C
Where does Fm7 belong?
In Eb major, Fm7 starts as ii7 before the dominant moves toward the tonic.
Play the role cards to hear how its surrounding chords change the job it does; Diatonic Chords explains the basic numbered roles.
- The ii in ii-V-Iii7
The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to Eb.
Fm7ii7Bb7Ebmaj7 - The relative minorvi7
Same notes as Ab major with a darker center.
Abmaj7Fm7vi7Bbm7Eb7 - Dorian vampi7
Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives F Dorian its brighter minor sound.
Fm7i7Bb7 - A soft stand-iniii7
It shares three notes with Dbmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.
Dbmaj7Fm7iii7Gbmaj7
Progressions to try
- Fm7Bb7Ebmaj7
Fm7 begins a ii-V-I in Eb major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.
- Abmaj7Fm7Bbm7Eb7
Here Fm7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.
- Fm7Bb7
The two-chord Dorian vamp gives Fm7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.
- Dbmaj7Fm7Gbmaj7
In Db major, Fm7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.
Which shape should you use?
On guitar, start with 131111, a barre at the 1st fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The x-8-10-8-9-8 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.
On ukulele, start with 1313, played at the 1st fret. The 5546 grip moves the chord to another register.
On piano, play F-A flat-C-E flat. Move F up an octave to reach the first inversion, A flat-C-E flat-F; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.
What are the inversions?
F is the root, A flat the minor third, C the fifth and E flat the flat seventh.
- Root position: F-A flat-C-E flat, with F lowest.
- First inversion: A flat-C-E flat-F, written Fm7/Ab if A flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Second inversion: C-E flat-F-A flat, written Fm7/C if C is lowest in the whole arrangement.
- Third inversion: E flat-F-A flat-C, written Fm7/Eb if E flat is lowest in the whole arrangement.
A slash chord names the note in the bass, not merely the lowest note under one hand. Chord Inversions shows how to read that distinction.
How does Fm7 differ from F7?
Keep F, C and E flat, then raise the third from A flat to A. That turns Fm7 into F7; listen to the one moving voice. Try that one-note change on piano, then use the comparer to hear it in the full chord. See F7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.
Fm7
F - Ab - C - EbF7
F - A - C - Eb