F Minor Triads on Guitar: Every Inversion on Every String Set

A F minor triad is F, A♭ and C (1 ♭3 5). It has three arrangements, root position, first inversion and second inversion, and each can be played on four groups of three strings: all twelve shapes are below.

Keys

CAGED Chords — Fm

5C shape
8A shape
10G shape
1E shape
3D shape

Triads — Fm

Root position

5C shape
8A shape
10G shape
1E shape

The notes of Fm

F minor is a minor third (three frets) with a major third (four frets) on top. Root position puts F at the bottom (F, A♭ and C); first inversion puts A♭ at the bottom (A♭, C and F); second inversion puts C at the bottom (C, F and A♭).

Fm on every string set

On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 10–13, first inversion at frets 3–4 and second inversion at frets 6–8.

Fm triad, root position, on the low E, A and D strings: F (root) on the low E string, fret 13; A flat on the A string, fret 11; C on the D string, fret 10.
Root position
Fm triad, first inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: A flat on the low E string, fret 4; C on the A string, fret 3; F (root) on the D string, fret 3.
First inversion
Fm triad, second inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: C on the low E string, fret 8; F (root) on the A string, fret 8; A flat on the D string, fret 6.
Second inversion

On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 5–8, first inversion at frets 10–11 and second inversion at frets 1–3.

Fm triad, root position, on the A, D and G strings: F (root) on the A string, fret 8; A flat on the D string, fret 6; C on the G string, fret 5.
Root position
Fm triad, first inversion, on the A, D and G strings: A flat on the A string, fret 11; C on the D string, fret 10; F (root) on the G string, fret 10.
First inversion
Fm triad, second inversion, on the A, D and G strings: C on the A string, fret 3; F (root) on the D string, fret 3; A flat on the G string, fret 1.
Second inversion

On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 1–3, first inversion at frets 5–6 and second inversion at frets 9–10.

Fm triad, root position, on the D, G and B strings: F (root) on the D string, fret 3; A flat on the G string, fret 1; C on the B string, fret 1.
Root position
Fm triad, first inversion, on the D, G and B strings: A flat on the D string, fret 6; C on the G string, fret 5; F (root) on the B string, fret 6.
First inversion
Fm triad, second inversion, on the D, G and B strings: C on the D string, fret 10; F (root) on the G string, fret 10; A flat on the B string, fret 9.
Second inversion

On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 8–10, first inversion at fret 1 and second inversion at frets 4–6.

Fm triad, root position, on the G, B and high e strings: F (root) on the G string, fret 10; A flat on the B string, fret 9; C on the high e string, fret 8.
Root position
Fm triad, first inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: A flat on the G string, fret 1; C on the B string, fret 1; F (root) on the high e string, fret 1.
First inversion
Fm triad, second inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: C on the G string, fret 5; F (root) on the B string, fret 6; A flat on the high e string, fret 4.
Second inversion

Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes

The practice pad above shows Fm's triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:

  • Root position: C shape (fret 5), A shape (fret 8), G shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 1).
  • First inversion: C shape (fret 5), A shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 1).
  • Second inversion: Cm shape (fret 4), A shape (fret 9) and E shape (fret 1).

Where Fm appears

Fm belongs to 8 keys: iii in D♭ major, ii in E♭ major and vi in A♭ major; iv in C minor, i in F minor and v in B♭ minor; iv in C harmonic minor and i in F harmonic minor.

None of them is one of the open-string guitar keys (C, G, D, A, E and their relative minors), so Fm is more often met in piano-led songs, horn arrangements and with a capo.

Open strings and capo options for Fm

No open string is a note of Fm, so every voicing on this page is fully fretted and there's nothing to let ring.

To get an open-sounding voicing, use a capo: the Em shape with the capo at fret 1 and the Dm shape with the capo at fret 3.

The closest chords to Fm share two of its three notes: its relative major and the chords a fourth and a fifth away, which are its neighbours in F minor.

Fm triad FAQs

What notes are in a F minor triad?

F, A♭ and C. The formula is 1 ♭3 5.

What is the first inversion of Fm?

A♭, C and F, with A♭ in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 1, fret 1 and fret 1.

How many Fm triad shapes are there?

Twelve to learn: root position and two inversions on each of the four three-string sets. They repeat twelve frets higher.

Learn more

How to use guitar triads explains inversions and how to use them in rhythm parts and solos, and triads on all string sets goes through each set in turn. The triad library has every chord.