Banjo F♯m chord (Sawmill)F♯ minor on the 5-string banjo: 4 2 1 4, and 3 more shapes

Frets, string 4 to string 1: 4 2 1 4 (first position)

1. String 4 (D): 4th fret, ring finger, F♯
2. String 3 (G): 2nd fret, middle finger, A
3. String 2 (C): 1st fret, index finger, C♯
4. String 1 (D): 4th fret, little finger, F♯
5. String 5, the short g: open, G, not in the chord

Sounds: F♯ A C♯ F♯  ·  F♯m is F♯, A, C♯ (1 · ♭3 · 5)

Found in: A major (vi), D major (iii), A mixolydian (vi), B mixolydian (v), B dorian (v), B minor (v)

The 5th string: the short g rubs against the F♯ in this shape, a semitone away: some players let it ring, some skip it.

With a capo: on the 4th fret it’s 0 2 2 3 (frets counted from the capo), an open Dm shape. Spike the 5th string at the 9th fret to keep it in tune with the capo.

Sawmill tuning: gDGCD, the short 5th string first, then strings 4 to 1.