F minor scale on piano
The F minor scale uses the notes F - G - A♭ - B♭ - C - D♭ - E♭ and has 4 flats. This page shows the natural minor scale.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
F minor scale fingering
| Hand | F | G | A♭ | B♭ | C | D♭ | E♭ | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in F minor
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| i | F minor | F - A♭ - C |
| ii° | G diminished | G - B♭ - D♭ |
| III | A♭ major | A♭ - C - E♭ |
| iv | B♭ minor | B♭ - D♭ - F |
| v | C minor | C - E♭ - G |
| VI | D♭ major | D♭ - F - A♭ |
| VII | E♭ major | E♭ - G - B♭ |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is Fm - Cm - D♭ - B♭m (i - v - VI - iv).
Relative key
A♭ major is the relative major of F minor. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the F minor scale?
F minor: F, G, A♭, B♭, C, D♭, E♭, F.
How many sharps or flats are in F minor?
F minor has 4 flats (A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭).
What is the relative major of F minor?
A♭ major. It shares the same notes and key signature as F minor.