Minor Key Chords
Let’s find all the chords for the key of F sharp minor. We can use these chords to create chord progressions and play creatively in that key! Minor keys are enjoyable to play, and work well for creating more somber and reflective moods at the piano.
How to Find Chords for the Key of F Sharp Minor
To find the chords, we’ll first need to build an F sharp minor scale. There are different kinds of minor scales, so let’s start with the natural minor scale.
Natural minor scales each have a relative major scale. This means these two scales use the same notes to build their scales, but start and end on different notes. F sharp natural minor is relative to A major. Since these two scales use the same notes, they also share the same chords.
Here are the notes for an F sharp natural minor scale:
F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E – F♯
Now we’ll start building a chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
We’ll start on F♯, and count “1 – 3 – 5” to build our first chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do this, we get: F♯ – A – C♯
Then we’ll start on G♯ and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: G♯ – B – D
Next, we’ll start on A and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using the notes of the scale to build the chord. When we do, we get: A – C♯ – E
We can continue following this pattern, building a “1 – 3 – 5” chord (also called a “triad”) off each note of the scale, and using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
Chords for Minor Keys Printable
Learn the chords for each minor key with this 40-page PDF! Chords are built with both the natural minor and harmonic minor scales.
Chords for the Key of F Sharp Minor
Here are the chords for the key of F sharp minor:
F♯ – A – C♯ = F♯ minor chord
G♯ – B – D = G♯ diminished chord
B – D – F♯ = B minor chord
C♯ – E – G♯ = C♯ minor chord
E – G♯ – B = E major chord
How Do We Label the Chords?
You may be wondering how we know if a chord is major, minor or diminished? There are actually four types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords, or “triads”:
Major chords are built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.
Minor chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the third note is lowered 1/2 step.
Augmented chords are built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the third and fifth notes are raised 1/2 step.
Diminished chords are built using the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale, but the third and fifth notes are lowered 1/2 step.
When we build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord, or triad, off each note of a natural minor scale, we’ll always get these chord types in this order:
Minor
Diminished
Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
We can use this pattern to find the chords for other minor keys!
Primary Chords for F Sharp Minor
Each minor key has three “primary” chords. Primary chords are used often in that key, and are built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale.
The primary chords for F sharp minor are:
F♯ minor
B minor
C♯ minor
How to Find Chords for F Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
Now let’s find the chords again, using the harmonic minor scale. Harmonic minor scales are simillar to natural minor scales, except the seventh note is raised 1/2 step.
Here are the notes for F sharp harmonic minor:
F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E♯ – F♯
Next we’ll follow the same pattern as before, building a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of the scale, and using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.
Chords for F Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
Here are the chords when we use the F sharp harmonic minor scale:
F♯ – A – C♯ = F♯ minor chord
G♯ – B – D = G♯ diminished chord
A – C♯ – E♯ = A augmented chord
B – D – F♯ = B minor chord
C♯ – E♯ – G♯ = C♯ major chord
E♯ – G♯ – B = E♯ diminished chord
Labeling the Chords
When we build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of a harmonic minor scale, we’ll always get these chord types in this order:
Minor
Diminished
Augmented
Minor
Major
Major
Diminished
Primary Chords for F Sharp Minor Using the Harmonic Minor Scale
The primary chords for F sharp minor using the harmonic minor scale are:
F♯ minor
B minor
C♯ major
When we build the chords using the harmonic minor scale instead of the natural minor scale, the third primary chord becomes major instead of minor, adding some contrast to the music.
Conclusion
Now you know how to build chords for the key of F sharp minor, and you can use them to create chord progressions in that key!
Minor keys provide a nice contrast to major keys, and are lots of fun to use when playing creatively at the piano. They can be used to express a variety moods at the piano, which makes them very versatile.
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