Key

The key of F minor · 4 flats: B♭ E♭ A♭ D♭

Minor keys sound darker and more serious. Songs in minor keys usually borrow a major V chord from the harmonic minor scale for a stronger pull home.

Relative major: A♭ major — the same notes and key signature. Parallel major: F major. Scale: F minor scale.

Notes in the key

FGA♭B♭CD♭E♭

Chords in F minor

One chord on each note of the scale. Roman numerals show each chord’s position — uppercase for major, lowercase for minor.

Left-handed

i Fm

F A♭ C

ii° Gdim

G B♭ D♭

III A♭

A♭ C E♭

iv B♭m

B♭ D♭ F

v Cm

C E♭ G

VI D♭

D♭ F A♭

VII E♭

E♭ G B♭

Borrowed from harmonic minor

Raising the 7th note turns v into a major V (and V7) — the chord that makes minor-key songs resolve so strongly.

V C

C E G

V7 C7

C E G B♭

vii°7 Edim7

E G B♭ D♭

Common progressions in F minor

The epic minor progression i–VI–III–VII Fm – D♭ – A♭ – E♭ The minor cadence i–iv–V–i Fm – B♭m – C – Fm The Andalusian cadence i–VII–VI–V Fm – E♭ – D♭ – C

Circle of fifths

Each step clockwise adds a sharp (or removes a flat). Neighbors on the circle share all but one note, so F minor’s closest keys are right next to it — and its relative major sits on the outer ring. Click any key to open it.