F-sharp Minor Chord

How to play the F-sharp Minor Chord on the piano

Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the F-sharp Minor Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.

The F-sharp Minor Chord in root position

In root position, the notes of the F♯ minor chord are stacked in thirds with F♯ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.

F-sharp Minor Chord in root position
Note Order	F♯ A C♯
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	F♯m

The F-sharp Minor Chord in first inversion

In first inversion, the third of the chord (A) becomes the bottom note, and the root (F♯) jumps up to the top.

F-sharp Minor Chord in 1^st inversion
Note Order	A C♯ F♯
Left Hand Fingering	5 3 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 2 5
Chord Symbol	F♯m⁶ or F♯m/A

The F-sharp Minor Chord in second inversion

In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (C♯) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (A) goes to the top.

F-sharp Minor Chord in 2^nd inversion
Note Order	C♯ F♯ A
Left Hand Fingering	5 2 1
Right Hand Fingering	1 3 5
Chord Symbol	F♯m^6/4 or F♯m/C♯

F-sharp Minor Chord theory and function

A minor chord has the lowered third, which gives it a quieter, darker color. In a major key the minor chords play supporting roles. In a minor key the minor tonic chord is home.

The F♯ minor chord is the supertonic (ii) in E major, the mediant (iii) in D major, and the submediant (vi) in A major. In minor keys, it is the tonic (i) in F♯ minor, the subdominant (iv) in C♯ minor, and the dominant (v) in B minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as G♭ minor, a spelling none of the common keys uses.

The place a student meets a minor chord most often is ii, leading to V and then home. In E major that is F♯m – B – E. In F♯ minor the everyday pattern is i – iv – V – i: F♯m – Bm – C♯ – F♯m, where the major V comes from the raised seventh. A minor chord is also the relative minor of the major chord a minor third above it, so a piece can move between the two and change color without leaving the key.