F Minor
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | F |
| Mode | Minor |
| Accidentals | 4 flats |
| Key Signature Notes | B♭, E♭, A♭, D♭ |
F minor has four flats and a deeply melancholic, sorrowful character. It appears frequently in Romantic piano music and is known for its dark emotional intensity.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of F Minor — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | Minor | F Minor |
| 2 | ii° | Diminished | G Diminished |
| 3 | III | Major | A♭ Major |
| 4 | iv | Minor | B♭ Minor |
| 5 | v | Minor | C Minor |
| 6 | VI | Major | D♭ Major |
| 7 | VII | Major | E♭ Major |
Related Keys
- Relative Major
- A♭ Major — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Major
- F Major — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in F Minor
Common scales built from the F tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
B♭ instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in G minor to sound F Minor. E♭ instruments (alto saxophone, E♭ clarinet) read in D minor to sound F Minor. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around B♭ and E♭ transpositions.