Piano chord
Fm7F minor seventh
- F1
- A♭♭3
- C5
- E♭♭7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 10semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-4-5
How to play Fm7 on piano
- Find F: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F, 2 on A♭, 4 on C, 5 on E♭.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F, 4 on A♭, 2 on C, 1 on E♭.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F – A♭ – C – E♭
1st inversion · A♭ – C – E♭ – F
2nd inversion · C – E♭ – F – A♭
3rd inversion · E♭ – F – A♭ – C
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
Fm7 inversions
Fm7 can be played in 4 positions. In root position F is at the bottom; each inversion moves the lowest note up an octave, so another chord tone becomes the bass.
- Root positionbass: FRight hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: A♭Right hand 1-3-4-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: CRight hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: E♭Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-4-3-1
Chords that go with Fm7
The other chords of F minor, the key where Fm7 is home (i7). Songs in this key move between them.
Fm7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F an octave lower, the right hand plays F–A♭–C–E♭.
Fm7 on other instruments
About the Fm7 chord
F minor seventh has 4 notes: F (1), A♭ (♭3), C (5), E♭ (♭7). A minor seventh: a minor triad with the flat seventh. Softer than a plain minor chord, it is the ii chord of jazz and a favourite in R&B.
On the keyboard, start from F and add the other notes above it: F – A♭ – C – E♭. From the lowest to the highest key that is 10 semitones. That is less than an octave, so Fm7 sits comfortably under one hand.
Each inversion of Fm7 puts a different note in the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♭ (A♭–C–E♭–F). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C (C–E♭–F–A♭). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E♭ (E♭–F–A♭–C).
Fm7 is Fm with one note added: E♭.
Keys that contain Fm7: E flat major (ii7), A flat major (vi7), D flat major (iii7), C minor (iv7), F minor (i7).
Questions
What notes are in the Fm7 chord?
Fm7 (F minor seventh) has 4 notes: F (1), A♭ (♭3), C (5), E♭ (♭7).
How many inversions does Fm7 have?
Fm7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F–A♭–C–E♭); 1st inversion (A♭–C–E♭–F); 2nd inversion (C–E♭–F–A♭); 3rd inversion (E♭–F–A♭–C).
What is the difference between Fm7 and Fm?
Fm7 is Fm with one note added: E♭.
Can I play Fm7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position Fm7 spans 10 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.