Chords in the key of F minor
The key of F minor has seven diatonic chords: FmFmFmFm, G°, Ab, BbmBbmBbmBbm, CmCmCmCm, Db and Eb. As sevenths: Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7, Gm7b5, Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7, Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7, Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7, Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7 and Eb7Eb7Eb7Eb7. They come from the F natural minor scale, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db and Eb, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: F – G – Ab – Bb – C – Db – Eb| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | FmFmFmFm | Fm7Fm7Fm7Fm7 | tonic |
| ii° | G° | Gm7b5 | subdominant |
| III | AbAbAbAb | Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7Abmaj7 | tonic |
| iv | BbmBbmBbmBbm | Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7Bbm7 | subdominant |
| v | CmCmCmCm | Cm7Cm7Cm7Cm7 | dominant |
| VI | DbDbDbDb | Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7Dbmaj7 | subdominant |
| VII | EbEbEbEb | Eb7Eb7Eb7Eb7 | subdominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.
These are the chords of the natural minor scale. In practice the v often becomes V (major) or V7, borrowed from the harmonic minor, to create the leading tone that pulls back to the tonic.