F Minor Guitar Scale
Guitar scale — fretboard diagram
F Minor Scale — Notes and Intervals
The F Minor scale, also known as the Aeolian mode or natural minor, is the standard for expressing melancholy, introspection, and drama. On Guitar, its notes are F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb. Its sound is darker and more somber than the major scale, widely used in songwriting to evoke deep emotional narratives and serving as the foundation of traditional minor-key compositions. The diatonic chords of F Minor are Fm7, Gm7b5, Abmaj7, Bbm7, Cm7, Dbmaj7, Eb7. Commonly used in Rock, Pop, Metal, Classical, R&B. Notable players include Metallica, Adele, Beethoven. Use over minor triads, m7, m9 chords. Works across the entire minor key. Avoid over dominant chords that want a leading tone.
Notes: F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb
Intervals: 1P, 2M, 3m, 4P, 5P, 6m, 7m
Degrees: 1 2 b3 4 5 b6 b7
Formula: W-H-W-W-H-W-W
Number of notes: 7
Also known as: aeolian
Diatonic Chords
Fm7 — Gm7♭5 — A♭maj7 — B♭m7 — Cm7 — D♭maj7 — E♭7
How to Play F Minor on Guitar
Place your index finger at fret 1 on the 6th (low E) to find your F root note. Use a three-notes-per-string fingering to cover the full scale in one position, or learn the CAGED shapes to navigate the entire fretboard. An alternative starting point is 8th fret on the A string.
The F Minor scale contains 4 flats (Ab, Bb, Db, Eb). Its relative major is Ab major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Practice the F Minor scale by playing it ascending with one rhythmic feel (straight eighth notes) and descending with another (swing or triplets) at 80 BPM. This dual approach trains both technical accuracy and rhythmic versatility with the 7 notes of the scale.
Try these progressions with the F Minor scale: Fm7 - Bbm7 - Cm7 - Fm7 (I-IV-V-I) or Fm7 - Gm7b5 - Bbm7 - Cm7 for a more stepwise movement.
Guitar Tips
On guitar, try playing the F Minor scale using legato technique (hammer-ons and pull-offs) to develop a smooth, connected sound. This is particularly effective for longer scale runs.
The F Minor scale contains 7 notes (F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Guitar with different tunings and fret ranges.
CAGED Positions & Patterns for F Minor
The F Minor scale can be played in 5 CAGED positions across the fretboard, each based on an open chord shape (C, A, G, E, D). As a 7-note scale, it also lends itself to 3-notes-per-string (3NPS) patterns that facilitate legato playing and diagonal shifting. Use the pattern selector above to isolate each position.
Explore F Minor Further
- Harmonize the F Minor scale — triads & 7th chords
- Browse chord progressions
- F Minor on Ukulele
- F Minor on Bass
- F Minor on Piano
Explore F Minor in Other Tunings
- F Minor in Drop D (E-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor in DADGAD (D-A-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor in Open G (D-B-G-D-G-D)
- F Minor in Baritone (B Standard) (B-F#-D-A-E-B)
- F Minor in 7-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B)
- F Minor in 8-string (E-B-G-D-A-E-B-F#)
- F Minor in Drop C (D-A-F-C-G-C)
- F Minor in Drop B (C#-G#-E-B-F#-B)
- F Minor in Open D (D-A-F#-D-A-D)
- F Minor in Half Step Down (Eb-Bb-Gb-Db-Ab-Eb)
- F Minor in Open E (E-B-G#-E-B-E)
- F Minor in Open A (E-C#-A-E-A-E)
- F Minor in Double Drop D (D-B-G-D-A-D)
- F Minor in Open C (E-C-G-C-G-C)