Fm7 Ukulele Chord

Fm7 is the F minor seventh chord. It has four notes: F, A flat, C and E flat. The standard shape lays the index across the G and E strings at the 1st fret while the ring and pinky take the 3rd.

Index laid across the G and E strings at the 1st fret, ring on the C string and pinky on the A string at the 3rd. Root on the E string.

How to play Fm7 on ukulele, step by step

Index finger: press flat across the G to E strings at fret 1
Ring finger: 3rd fret, C string
Pinky finger: 3rd fret, A string
Strum all four strings.

The grip is fully movable: slide everything up two frets and it plays Gm7 at the 3rd fret, and each fret in between renames it a half step at a time.

More ways to play Fm7

There are 3 common Fm7 shapes: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these further up the neck. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

Fm7 ukulele chord diagram, frets 4 to 6, played 5546 — Frets 4 to 6

Fm7 ukulele chord diagram, frets 8 to 8, played 8888 — Frets 8 to 8

If the shape is not clean

The small barre sags in the middle: The index only has to hold the G and E strings, but the C string passes under it. Arch the finger slightly so the C string can pass to its own fret without being muted.
The pinky lands short: It shares the 3rd fret with the ring finger, one string apart. Bring both down together as a pair rather than stretching the pinky in afterwards.
Buzzing near the nut: Fret 1 resists the most. Set the barre just behind the fret wire and add a little arm pull rather than more thumb squeeze.

What makes it an Fm7

F · A♭ · C · E♭ 1 ♭3 5 ♭7

Fm7 is a minor seventh chord: an F minor triad (F, A flat, C) plus a minor seventh (E flat). The seventh softens the minor into the smooth, unhurried sound soul ballads live on.

Fm7 is the ii chord of E flat and the vi chord of A flat, both flat keys that belong to piano and horn arrangements, and the home chord of F minor. On the ukulele it appears mostly in songs kept in their original keys.

Fm7 vs Fm

One string changes. Fm leaves the C string open, sounding C, the fifth; Fm7 presses it at the 3rd fret, where it sounds E flat, the seventh. The 1st fret notes stay where they are.

The open string gives Fm a brighter ring; the fretted seventh makes Fm7 rounder and darker. Swap them back to back and the difference is easy to hear.

Fm7 chord questions

Is Fm7 hard to play?

It is a small barre, not a full one: the index covers only the G and E strings at the 1st fret. Most players find it quicker to learn than a full barre chord.

What is the difference between Fm and Fm7?

Fm7 frets the C string at the 3rd fret instead of leaving it open, adding E flat, the minor seventh. One finger more, and the chord turns soft and smoky.

Is this shape movable?

Yes. Nothing rings open, so the whole grip slides: two frets up it is Gm7, four up it is Am7 played as a fretted shape.

What keys use Fm7?

E flat major, where it is the ii chord, A flat major, where it is the vi, and F minor itself.