Ways to play F♯
Lowest on the neck first. Tap a shape to put it on the fretboard above and hear it. The numbers are fingers (1 is your index), × means leave that string out, and ○ means let it ring open.
What's in F♯
A major chord stacks a major 3rd (four half steps) and a perfect 5th (seven half steps) on the root. For F♯ that gives F♯, A♯ and C♯. Every shape below is some arrangement of those three notes, with a few doubled in another octave.
| Note | Formula | Interval from F♯ |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ | 1 | Root |
| A♯ | 3 | Major 3rd |
| C♯ | 5 | Perfect 5th |
Major chords sound settled and bright. They are the I, IV and V of every major key, which is why so many songs get by on three of them.
The key of F♯ major
Six sharps, the same pitches as G♭ major's six flats. Every chord in the key is a barre, so many players put a capo on the 2nd fret and use E-major shapes.
The seven chords built from the F♯ major scale:
Keys that use F♯
Every major and minor key whose scale contains all of F♯, A♯ and C♯, and the chord's Roman numeral in each. Minor keys marked harmonic get the chord from the raised 7th of the harmonic minor scale.
| Key | F♯ is the |
|---|---|
| F♯ major | I |
| D♭ major | IV |
| B major | V |
| B minor (harmonic) | V |
| B♭ minor | VI |
| E♭ minor | III |
| G♯ minor | VII |
Progressions to try
Related chords
The relative minor is E♭m, which shares its key signature. The parallel minor is F♯m, same root with the 3rd lowered.
Other chords on F♯: