Julie Swihart

Minor Seventh Chords

Let’s look at how to build an Fm7 (“F minor seventh”) chord on the piano. We’ll also learn the pattern for building any other minor seventh chord.

What Are Minor Seventh Chords?

Minor seventh chords are minor chords with an added note. The added note is the seventh note of the matching major scale, lowered 1/2 step.

We can build a minor chord by first building a major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale. Then to turn the major chord into a minor chord, we’ll lower the middle note 1/2 step.

Next, to convert the minor chord into a minor seventh chord, we’ll find the seventh note of the matching major scale, lower it 1/2 step, and add it to the minor chord.

Chord Types Printable

Learn to play 17 types of piano chords using 12 different root notes with this 34-page PDF! Chords are sorted both by their root note (C, D, E, etc.) and type (major, minor, augmented, diminished, etc.).

Get the Printable

How to Play an Fm7 Chord

So to build an Fm7 chord, we’ll start by building an F minor chord. We can build an F minor chord by first building an F major chord using the first, third and fifth notes of the F major scale: F – A – C. Then we’ll turn the F major chord into an F minor chord by lowering the middle note 1/2 step: F – A♭ – C

Then to turn the F minor chord into an Fm7 chord, we’ll find the seventh note of the F major scale, E, and lower it 1/2 step to E♭. Then we’ll add it to our F minor chord.

So to play an Fm7 chord, we’ll play:

F – A♭ – C – E♭

We can use this pattern to build any other minor seventh chord, by building a minor chord and then adding the seventh note of the matching major scale, lowered 1/2 step.

Chord Fingering

To play this chord with your right hand, use fingers 1 – 2 – 3 – 5. Or to play it with your left hand, use fingers 5 – 3 – 2 – 1 (thumbs are 1’s).

Other Seventh Chords

Since there are different types of seventh chords, it can help to compare their differences:

Seventh chords are major chords with an added note. The added note is the seventh note of the matching major scale, lowered 1/2 step.

So an F7 chord is: F – A – C – E♭

Major seventh chords are major chords with an added note. The added note is the seventh note of the matching major scale.

So an Fmaj7 chord is: F – A – C – E

Minor seventh chords are minor chords with an added note. The added note is the seventh note of the matching major scale, lowered 1/2 step.

So an Fm7 chord is: F – A♭ – C – E♭

Conclusion

Now you know how to play an Fm7 chord on the piano, and you can use that knowledge to build any other minor seventh chord!

Using chords to learn the piano is a wonderful way to enjoy music!