Chords in the key of F# minor
The key of F# minor has seven diatonic chords: F#mF#mF#mF#m, G#°, A, BmBmBmBm, C#mC#mC#mC#m, D and E. As sevenths: F#m7F#m7F#m7F#m7, G#m7b5, Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7, Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7, C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7, Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7 and E7E7E7E7. They come from the F# natural minor scale, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D and E, 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# – A – B – C# – D – E| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| i | F#mF#mF#mF#m | F#m7F#m7F#m7F#m7 | tonic |
| ii° | G#° | G#m7b5 | subdominant |
| III | AAAA | Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7Amaj7 | tonic |
| iv | BmBmBmBm | Bm7Bm7Bm7Bm7 | subdominant |
| v | C#mC#mC#mC#m | C#m7C#m7C#m7C#m7 | dominant |
| VI | DDDD | Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7Dmaj7 | subdominant |
| VII | EEEE | E7E7E7E7 | 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.