Common
About the F sharp Major scale
F 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 F♯ Lydian with the fourth lowered.
Its notes are F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, and E♯. The formula is W W H W W W H.
Also called the Ionian mode, Diatonic Major, and Bilawal.
F♯ Major uses five black keys on the piano, F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯.
Chords in the key of F sharp Major
Expand a chord to see how to play it.
Position 2 of 3
F sharp over A sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
G sharp minor over B (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
A sharp minor over C sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
B over D sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
C sharp over E sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
D sharp minor over F sharp (1st inversion)
Position 2 of 3
E sharp diminished over G sharp (1st inversion)
Seventh chords in F sharp Major
The four-note version of each chord, richer and jazzier.
F sharp major seven
G sharp minor seven
A sharp minor seven
B major seven
C sharp seven
D sharp minor seven
E sharp minor seven flat five
Progressions in F sharp Major
Tap any chord to hear it, or play the whole progression.
Notes and intervals
| 1 | F#F♯ | Root |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | G#G♯ | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A#A♯ | Major 3rd |
| 4 | BB | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C#C♯ | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | D#D♯ | Major 6th |
| 7 | E#E♯ | 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 | F sharp | G sharp | A sharp | B | C sharp | D sharp | E sharp | F sharp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Practicing it
B and E♯ are the notes the right thumb passes under to reach. The left hand crosses over its thumb on B and E♯. Both hands cross on the same notes, B and E♯, so the two thumbs move together. Every black key here, F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, and D♯, sits under a long finger, with the fourth finger anchoring on A♯, so the thumb never has to reach onto the raised group.
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 scaleG Major scaleG sharp Major scaleA Major scaleA sharp Major scaleB Major scale
Modes
The same notes, starting on a different note.
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