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 — F♯m

6C shape
9A shape
11G shape
2E shape
4D shape

Triads — F♯m

Root position

6C shape
9A shape
11G shape
2E shape

The notes of F♯m

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).

It's the same pitch as G♭m; this page uses F♯ because it's spelled with fewer sharps or flats.

F♯m on every string set

On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 0–14, first inversion at frets 4–5 and second inversion at frets 7–9.

F♯m triad, root position, on the low E, A and D strings: F sharp (root) on the low E string, fret 14; A on the A string, fret 0; C sharp on the D string, fret 11.
Root position
F♯m triad, first inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: A on the low E string, fret 5; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4.
First inversion
F♯m triad, second inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; A on the D string, fret 7.
Second inversion

On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 6–9, first inversion at frets 0–11 and second inversion at frets 2–4.

F♯m triad, root position, on the A, D and G strings: F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; A on the D string, fret 7; C sharp on the G string, fret 6.
Root position
F♯m triad, first inversion, on the A, D and G strings: A on the A string, fret 0; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11.
First inversion
F♯m triad, second inversion, on the A, D and G strings: C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; A on the G string, fret 2.
Second inversion

On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 2–4, first inversion at frets 6–7 and second inversion at frets 10–11.

F♯m triad, root position, on the D, G and B strings: F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; A on the G string, fret 2; C sharp on the B string, fret 2.
Root position
F♯m triad, first inversion, on the D, G and B strings: A on the D string, fret 7; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7.
First inversion
F♯m triad, second inversion, on the D, G and B strings: C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; A on the B string, fret 10.
Second inversion

On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 9–11, first inversion at fret 2 and second inversion at frets 5–7.

F♯m triad, root position, on the G, B and high e strings: F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; A on the B string, fret 10; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9.
Root position
F♯m triad, first inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: A on the G string, fret 2; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; F sharp (root) on the high e string, fret 2.
First inversion
F♯m triad, second inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7; A on the high e string, fret 5.
Second inversion

Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes

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

  • Root position: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 9), G shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • First inversion: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • Second inversion: Cm shape (fret 5), A shape (fret 10) and E shape (fret 2).

Where F♯m appears

F♯m 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.

Of those, D major, E major and A major are keys guitarists play in constantly, because their open strings ring with the scale, so F♯m turns up often in songs.

Open strings and capo options for F♯m

One open string is part of F♯m: the A string (the third). None of them is the root, so they colour a voicing rather than anchor it.

To get an open-sounding voicing, use a capo: the Em shape with the capo at fret 2 and the Dm shape with the capo at fret 4.

The closest chords to F♯m 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.

F♯m 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 F♯m?

A, C♯ and F♯, with A in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 2, fret 2 and fret 2.

How many F♯m 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.