Common
About the A sharp Major scale
A sharp Major is used for anthems, pop hooks, hymns and anything that should feel uplifting and stable. Think of it as the bright, resolved, "happy" sound that anchors most pop, folk and classical music. It is A♯ Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are A♯, B♯, C♯♯, D♯, E♯, F♯♯, and G♯♯. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
Two of the notes in A♯ Major are black keys, A♯ and D♯.
Chords in the key of A sharp Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
A sharp over C double sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B sharp minor over D sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C double sharp minor over E sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D sharp over F double sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E sharp over G double sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
F double sharp minor over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G double sharp diminished over B sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in A sharp Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
A sharp major seven
B sharp minor seven
C double sharp minor seven
D sharp major seven
E sharp seven
F double sharp minor seven
G double sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in A sharp Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | A#A♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | B#B♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | C##C♯♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | D#D♯ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | E#E♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | F##F♯♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | G##G♯♯ | Major 7th |
| Steps | W W H W W W H |
|---|---|
| Semitones | 2-2-1-2-2-2-1 |
| Degrees | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 |
Fingering
Standard fingering
| Hand | A sharp | B sharp | C double sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F double sharp | G double sharp | A sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Practicing it
The right thumb tucks under to play B♯ and E♯. Going up, the left hand crosses over after its thumb plays C♯♯ and G♯♯. The black keys A♯ and D♯ fall to the long fingers, which leaves the thumb on white keys throughout.
Shapes
Chromatic
Circle of Fifths
Related scales
Major in other keys
C Major scaleC sharp Major scaleD Major scaleD sharp Major scaleE Major scaleF Major scaleF sharp Major scaleG Major scaleG sharp Major scaleA Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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