F♯ major chordF♯

Built from

• F♯root
• A♯major 3rd
• C♯5th

The major 3rd sits four frets above the root and makes the chord sound open and sure of itself.

Hear it in a progression

• The pop progression

  Behind countless hits. Hopeful, then bittersweet. In F♯ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. F♯I
  2. C♯V
  3. D♯mvi
  4. BIV

• Three-chord song

  Folk, rock and roll, campfire. In F♯ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. F♯I
  2. BIV
  3. C♯V
  4. F♯I

• Doo-wop

  Fifties ballad, sweet and nostalgic. In F♯ major.

  Capo and transpose

  1. F♯I
  2. D♯mvi
  3. BIV
  4. C♯V

Where it goes next

Thinking in F♯ major, where it is the I chord.

• B

  IV. Lifts away from home without leaving it.

• C♯

  V. Builds tension that wants to come back.

• D♯m

  vi. Same key, sadder colour: the relative minor.

• G♯m

  ii. A gentle step up that sets up the V chord.

Sounds close

• D♯m7

  Shares 3 of its notes. Both have F♯, A♯ and C♯.

• D♯m

  Its relative minor: same key, sadder. Both have F♯ and A♯.

• A♯m

  Shares two notes: a softer swap. Both have A♯ and C♯.

• C♯dim7

  Shares 2 of its notes. Both have A♯ and C♯.

Scales that fit

Notes you can play over this chord, simplest first.

• F♯ major
• F♯ major pentatonic
• F♯ mixolydian
• F♯ lydian

Keys it lives in

• F♯ majoras I
• B majoras V
• D♭ majoras IV
• B♭ minoras VI
• E♭ minoras III
• G♯ minoras VII