F# Minor Ukulele Scale
Ukulele 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 Ukulele, its notes are F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E. 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 F#m7, G#m7b5, Amaj7, Bm7, C#m7, Dmaj7, E7. 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#, A, B, C#, D, E
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
F♯m7 — G♯m7♭5 — Amaj7 — Bm7 — C♯m7 — Dmaj7 — E7
How to Play F# Minor on Ukulele
On ukulele, find F# on the fret 5 area, and work through the scale within a four-fret span. You may need to shift positions once to cover all 7 notes. Practice each position separately before linking them together.
The F# Minor scale contains 3 sharps (F#, G#, C#). Its relative major is A major, which shares the same key signature.
Practice Routine
Begin by playing the F# Minor scale ascending and descending at 80 BPM using a metronome, one note per beat. Once comfortable, practice in thirds (F#-A, G#-B) to build intervallic familiarity. Spend 5 minutes daily on this pattern before increasing tempo by 10 BPM.
Try these progressions with the F# Minor scale: F#m7 - Bm7 - C#m7 - F#m7 (I-IV-V-I) or F#m7 - G#m7b5 - Bm7 - C#m7 for a more stepwise movement.
Ukulele Tips
On ukulele, the F# Minor scale sounds particularly charming when played as a melodic pattern over fingerpicked chord shapes. Try integrating scale tones into your strumming patterns for a more sophisticated sound.
The F# Minor scale contains 7 notes (F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E). Use the interactive fretboard above to explore this scale on Ukulele 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 Guitar
- F# Minor on Bass
- F# Minor on Piano