Dictionary: F Blues Scale

When you add a diminished 5th note to the F minor pentatonic scale (the B note, in this case), you now have the F blues scale.  Try it over F.  Any F.  You may like the results.

Dictionary: F Minor Pentatonic Scale

The F minor pentatonic scale is convenient to use for improvising solos and composing melodies over an F minor chord progression, especially if you are unsure whether to use the Aeolian, Dorian, or Phrygian mode at any given moment.

The F minor pentatonic scale sounds especially bluesy over an F major chord progression.  If you want an even bluesier scale, stay tuned ...

Modes in E# / F

For larger mode maps:
E# Locrian
F Lydian
F Ionian
F Mixolydian
F Dorian
F Aeolian
F Phrygian
F Locrian

See also:
F Major Scale
F Minor Scale

Modes with 4 Flats

For larger mode maps:
Ab Ionian
Bb Dorian
C Phrygian
Db Lydian
Eb Mixolydian
F Aeolian
G Locrian

See also:
Ab Major Scale
F Minor Scale

Dictionary: Fm Chord

If you're looking looking for a simpler guitar chord chart, check out this entry from September 2007.  If you're looking for a variant chord spelling that uses G# instead of Ab, check out the diagram below:

Dictionary: F Minor Scale

This scale is the relative minor of Ab major.  In the table below, you'll enter F harmonic minor territory with the chords to the right:

Fm	Ab	Gdim	Abaug
Bbm	Db	Dbm	Bbdim
Cm	Eb	C	Edim

Three Chords + F Blues Scale for #Guitar / and for #Keyboard (#Piano)

Lesson #76: Power Chords in F Minor (Guitar, Beginner, Intermediate)

In F minor: F5, G5, Ab5, Bb5, C5, Db5, and Eb5 - see A-flat major.

In E-sharp minor: E#5, F##5, G#5, A#5, B#5, C#5, and D#5 - see power chords in G-sharp major.

Lesson #74: Seven Chords in F Minor (Guitar, Beginner)

In F minor: Fm, (not pictured: Gdim), Ab, Bbm, Cm or C, Db, and Eb.

In E# minor: E#m, (not pictured: F##dim), G#, A#m, B#m or B#, C#, and D# - see G# major.

Lesson #72: F Minor and the Capo / Barre (Guitar, Beginner)

You probably already know how to play this voicing for the F minor chord:


It is basically using your index finger as a barre across the 4th fret, and essentially the same as using a capo at the 1st fret and playing the basic Em chord:


Try either placing a capo on or using your index finger to barre the 8th fret and play the Am chord:


If you capo or barre at the 3rd fret and play the Dm chord, you're actually playing the Fm chord:

Fm6add4 (Guitar, Intermediate)

This is the F minor 6th add-4th:

D string: F (root)
G string: Bb (4th)
B string: D (6th)
E string: Ab (minor 3rd)

Ab Chord Progressions: IV and iv Substitutions

Remember from last time:

I. Ab major
ii. Bbm
iii. Cm
IV. Db major
V. Eb major
vi. Fm
vii(b5). Gdim

Remember that the Ab major diatonic scale is as follows: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Remember that the relative minor of Ab major (the chord and the scale) is F minor.

The F natural minor scale is as follows: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F (compare with Ab major).

The F harmonic minor scale is as follows: F G Ab Bb C Db E F (note the singular difference between the natural and harmonic minor scales).

Now we have those ground rules established, it might help in the songwriting process to punctuate the IV chord with a iv chord, which makes things a bit Beatlesque (for lack of a better word). Going back to the simple relative minor substitutions from last time, let's try the following progression:

I-V-IV-IV: Ab Eb Db Db

Let's replace the V chord with its relative minor, the iii chord.

I-iii-IV-IV: Ab Cm Db Db

Let's try the III chord instead.

I-III-IV-IV: Ab C Db Db

Let's replace the second IV chord with a iv chord (which is a minor chord).

I-III-IV-iv: Ab C Db Dbm

Anyway, to connect with the natural minor and harmonic minor scales mentioned above, let's look at the IV and iv chords.

IV. Db major chord (Db F Ab notes)

iv. Db minor chord (Db E Ab notes)

Experiment with different chord progressions, and the best of luck to you in the songwriting process.

Ab Chord Progressions: iii and III Substitutions

Remember the "Dirty Dozen" (see sidebar for more info) Key of G# from last time?

I. G# major
ii. Bbm
iii. Cm
IV. C# major
V. Eb major
vi. Fm
vii(b5). Gdim

Well, scratch that. We're back to a more or less "orthodox" way of stating the Key of Ab Major:

I. Ab major
ii. Bbm
iii. Cm
IV. Db major
V. Eb major
vi. Fm
vii(b5). Gdim

Remember that the Ab major diatonic scale is as follows: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G Ab

Remember that the relative minor of Ab major (the chord and the scale) is F minor.

The F natural minor scale is as follows: F G Ab Bb C Db Eb F (compare with Ab major).

The F harmonic minor scale is as follows: F G Ab Bb C Db E F (note the singular difference between the natural and harmonic minor scales).

Now we have those ground rules established, it might help in the songwriting process to substitute the mellow iii chord with a more confident III chord. Going back to the simple relative minor substitutions from last time, let's try the following progression:

I-V-I-V-IV-V-I (I-V): Ab Eb Ab Eb Db Eb Ab (play Ab Eb quickly)

Let's replace some I and V chords with their relative minors, vi and iii respectively.

I-V-vi-iii-IV-V-I (vi-V): Ab Eb Fm Cm Db Eb Ab (Fm Eb)

Let's replace the iii chord with a III chord (that is a major chord).

I-V-vi-III-IV-V-I (vi-V): Ab Eb Fm C Db Eb Ab (Fm Eb)

It sounds a bit more adventurous, but still familiar, does it not?

Anyway, to connect with the natural minor and harmonic minor scales mentioned above, let's look at the iii and III chords.

iii. C minor chord (C Eb G notes)

III. C major chord (C E G notes)

Experiment with different chord progressions, and the best of luck to you in the songwriting process.

F Blues Horiztonal (Guitar, Intermediate)

Scale: F blues

Notes: F Ab Bb B C Eb

Hollow Circles: F notes

Orange Circles: F minor pentatonic, diagonal pattern

Gray Circles: F minor pentatonic outside of the diagonal pattern

Blue Circles (Blue Note): B notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: F5 Bb5 Ab5 Db5

And so ends our SECOND 12 WEEKS, as we've looked at 7 scales/modes per week, through all 12 keys. After our holiday break, we'll begin again in the Key of C, with more Chord / Scale / Mode /? du Jour!

Please stay tuned for the next installment of Chord du Jour (alternatively, DeRamos.org's Daily Chord), and be sure to subscribe to this daily dose of music education! THANK YOU!

F Blues Diagonal (Guitar, Beginner)

Scale: F blues

Notes: F Ab Bb B C Eb

Hollow Circles: F notes

Orange Circles: F minor pentatonic

Blue Circles (Blue Note): B notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: Fm Bbm Cm Bbm

F Blues Vertical (Guitar, Beginner)

Scale: F blues

Notes: F Ab Bb B C Eb

Hollow Circles: F notes

Orange Circles: F minor pentatonic

Blue Circles (Blue Note): B notes

Example Chord Progression for Rhythm Guitar: F7 Bb7 F7 C7 Bb7 F7

Fm (Guitar, Beginner)

This is Fm, or F minor:

1. Using the length of your index finger, make a bar from the Low E string to the High E string, behind the 1st fret (F, Ab, C, and F notes).
2. Your middle finger will not be used for this chord.
3. Place your ring finger on the A string, behind the 3rd fret (C note).
4. Place your pinky finger on the D string, behind the 3rd fret (F note).
5. Play the F minor chord.