F minor chord on ukulele (Fm)

Fm is F, A♭ and C. The easiest shape is 1-0-1-3. Play it once at full speed, then at a quarter to hear every note.

1-0-1-3 · open · easy

Notes: F · A♭ · C
Formula: 1 · ♭3 · 5
First shape: 1-0-1-3

How to play Fm on ukulele

Shape 1, 1-0-1-3, reading from the G string on the left:

Index finger: G string, 1st fret (A♭).
Middle finger: E string, 1st fret (F).
Ring finger: A string, 3rd fret (C).
Let the open C string ring (C).

Arch your fingers so their tips come down vertically. That keeps them off the open strings, which have to ring for the chord to sound complete.
On ukulele you strum all four strings. The top G string is tuned higher than the C, which is why ukulele chords sound bright and close.

Other ways to play Fm

10-8-8-8: movable shape at the 8th fret, medium. A high voicing for when the low version is taken by another instrument.

Fm the capo way

With a capo you can skip the harder shapes: capo on the 1st fret and play the open Em shape (0-4-3-2), capo on the 3rd fret and play the open Dm shape (2-2-1-0), capo on the 5th fret and play the open Cm shape (0-3-3-3) or capo on the 6th fret and play the open Bm shape (4-2-2-2). Everything above the capo is fingered exactly like the open chord.

Changing from Fm to the chords around it

Songs rarely hold Fm for long. Here's what your hand does on the moves that come up most.

B♭ (V in E♭ major): Fm (1-0-1-3) to B♭ (3-2-1-1): the index finger goes to the E string, 1st fret, the middle finger slides across to the A string at the same fret, your ring finger lands on the C string, 2nd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the G string, 3rd fret. No finger can stay, so practice lifting all of them together and landing the new shape as a unit. Listen for F, which stays put while the rest moves. B♭ on ukulele
A♭ (IV in E♭ major): Fm (1-0-1-3) to A♭ (1-3-4-3): your index and ring fingers stay put, your middle finger lands on the C string, 3rd fret, the pinky finger comes down on the E string, 4th fret. The two chords share A♭ and C, which is why the change sounds smooth. A♭ on ukulele
E♭ (I in E♭ major): Fm (1-0-1-3) to E♭ (0-3-3-1): your index finger lands on the A string, 1st fret, move the middle finger to the C string, 3rd fret, the ring finger slides across to the E string at the same fret. Nothing carries over, so drill it slowly, lifting and landing all fingers at once. E♭ on ukulele

Fm is a minor triad. All 3 notes of Fm fit on the ukulele's four strings, with one of them doubled. On ukulele you hear it best picked slowly, string by string.

Practice Fm in two minutes

Pick shape 1 one string at a time, low to high: A♭, C, F, C. Every note should ring clearly; if one thuds, adjust that finger before you strum. Finish by moving between 1-0-1-3 and 10-8-8-8 to learn two positions of the same chord.

Keys and progressions with Fm

In F minor, i–VI–III–VII on ukulele is Fm (1-0-1-3), C♯ (6-5-4-4), A♭ (1-3-4-3) and E♭ (0-3-3-1). About the minor anthem.

In F minor, i–iv–V on ukulele is Fm (1-0-1-3), B♭m (3-1-1-1) and C (0-0-0-3). About the minor cadence.

In F minor, i–VII–VI–V on ukulele is Fm (1-0-1-3), E♭ (0-3-3-1), C♯ (6-5-4-4) and C (0-0-0-3). About the Andalusian cadence.

Fm on guitar and piano

Switching instruments? Try Fm on piano or Fm on guitar, or compare them on the Fm chord page.

Close to Fm

Other minor chords

Fm on ukulele: questions

What notes are in Fm on ukulele?

F, A♭ and C. In the 1-0-1-3 shape the strings play A♭ (G string), C (C string, open), F (E string) and C (A string), so C is doubled.

What's the easiest way to play Fm on ukulele?

1-0-1-3, the shape at the top of this page. No barre: some strings ring open.

Is Fm a barre chord on ukulele?

Not the usual shape: 1-0-1-3 needs no barre.

Which string does Fm start on?

In the 1-0-1-3 shape the lowest string you play is the G string at the 1st fret, which is A♭, the minor third.

Shapes and sound are generated from the notes F, A♭ and C and tested automatically. Updated September 2026.