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F#m7 Chord

F#m7 combines a minor triad with E, its flat seventh. In a ii-V-I it often starts the journey rather than ending it.

  • Notes: F sharp-A-C sharp-E
  • Symbol: F#m7
  • ii7 in E major
  • Minor third and flat seventh
Switch chordF#m7

How to play an F#m7 chord

Notes: F# - A - C# - E · symbol F#m7

  • Root position

    F# - A - C# - E
    C5C6
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 1st inversion

    A - C# - E - F#
    C5C6
    Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left 5-4-2-1

  • 2nd inversion

    C# - E - F# - A
    C5C6
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

  • 3rd inversion

    E - F# - A - C#
    C5C6
    Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left 5-3-2-1

Where does F#m7 belong?

In E major, F#m7 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.

  • In E majorThe ii in ii-V-I
    ii7

    The first step of the most common move in jazz, heading to E.

    F#m7ii7B7V7Emaj7Imaj7
  • In A majorThe relative minor
    vi7

    Same notes as A major with a darker center.

    Amaj7Imaj7F#m7vi7Bm7ii7E7V7
  • In F# DorianDorian vamp
    i7

    Two chords back and forth: the major IV gives F# Dorian its brighter minor sound.

    F#m7i7B7IV7
  • In D majorA soft stand-in
    iii7

    It shares three notes with Dmaj7, so it moves without leaving home.

    Dmaj7Imaj7F#m7iii7Gmaj7IVmaj7

Progressions to try

  • F#m7B7Emaj7

    F#m7 begins a ii-V-I in E major; listen for the move through the dominant to the maj7 arrival.

  • Amaj7F#m7Bm7E7

    Here F#m7 serves as vi7, keeping the phrase moving toward the following minor-seven chord.

  • F#m7B7

    The two-chord Dorian vamp gives F#m7 room to sound like a center without a final cadence.

  • Dmaj7F#m7Gmaj7

    In D major, F#m7 acts as iii7 between the home and IVmaj7 chords.

Which shape should you use?

On guitar, start with 242222, a barre at the 2nd fret. Press the barred notes evenly and mute any strings marked x. The x-9-11-9-10-9 shape gives you another position when the neighboring chords sit elsewhere on the neck.

On ukulele, start with 2424, played at the 2nd fret. The 6657 grip moves the chord to another register.

On piano, play F sharp-A-C sharp-E. Move F sharp up an octave to reach the first inversion, A-C sharp-E-F sharp; the notes remain the same while the lowest voice changes.

What are the inversions?

F sharp is the root, A the minor third, C sharp the fifth and E the flat seventh.

  • Root position: F sharp-A-C sharp-E, with F sharp lowest.
  • First inversion: A-C sharp-E-F sharp, written F#m7/A if A is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Second inversion: C sharp-E-F sharp-A, written F#m7/C# if C sharp is lowest in the whole arrangement.
  • Third inversion: E-F sharp-A-C sharp, written F#m7/E if E 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 F#m7 differ from F#7?

Keep F sharp, C sharp and E, then raise the third from A to A sharp. That turns F#m7 into F#7; 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 F#7 for the other chord's full spelling and roles.

  • F#m7

    F# - A - C# - E
    C5

    F# minor 7

  • F#7

    F# - A# - C# - E
    C5

    F# dominant 7

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