Chords in the key of F♯ major
The key of F♯ major has six sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). Its seven chords are F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m and E♯dim. Tap any of them, or play them in order.
Tap a numeral to hear one chord; tap a shape to open it.
The chords that do most of the work
The primary chords of F♯ major are F♯ (I), B (IV) and C♯ (V); between them they hold every note of the scale. D♯m (vi) is the most-used minor chord, and G♯m (ii) the most common way to set up C♯.
Key signature
F♯ major has six sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯), printed once at the start of each staff. Sharp keys add one sharp per step clockwise around the circle of fifths: F♯ major sits between B major and D♭ major.
The notes of the key are the F♯ major scale: F♯ G♯ A♯ B C♯ D♯ E♯. The relative minor of F♯ major is D♯ minor. Both use a key signature of six sharps. E♭ minor is enharmonically equivalent to D♯ minor, but it uses six flats.E♭ minor, the enharmonic equivalent of D♯ minor. Parallel minor: F♯ minor (same starting note).
Progressions in F♯ major
The progression player below starts in F♯ major. Change the key to hear the same pattern anywhere; the numerals stay the same.
In F♯ major, 4 beats per chord. Open in the progression builder
- IF♯
- VC♯
- viD♯m
- IVB
| Progression | In F♯ major | |
|---|---|---|
| I–V–vi–IV the pop progression | F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B | |
| I–IV–V the three-chord progression | F♯ – B – C♯ – F♯ | |
| I–vi–IV–V the 50s progression | F♯ – D♯m – B – C♯ | |
| ii–V–I the jazz cadence | G♯m7 – C♯7 – F♯maj7 – F♯maj7 | |
| vi–IV–I–V the minor-feel pop loop | D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯ | |
| I–IV–vi–V the lift | F♯ – B – D♯m – C♯ | |
| I–vi–ii–V the turnaround | F♯ – D♯m – G♯m – C♯ | |
| I–iii–IV–V the stepwise climb | F♯ – A♯m – B – C♯ | |
| I–V–vi–iii–IV–I–IV–V the Canon progression | F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – A♯m – B – F♯ – B – C♯ | |
| I7–IV7–V7 (12 bars) the 12-bar blues | F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – B7 – B7 – F♯7 – F♯7 – C♯7 – B7 – F♯7 – C♯7 |
Borrowed dominants: leaning into other chords of F♯ major
A secondary dominant is the dominant seventh chord a fifth above any chord of the key. Play it just before that chord and the arrival sounds stronger, as if the song briefly changed key.
- V7 of ii
- V7 of iii
- V7 of IV
- V7 of V
- V7 of vi
Borrowing from F♯ minor
Major-key songs often darken for a moment by taking chords from F♯ minor: Bm (iv), D (♭VI), E (♭VII) and A (♭III). The minor iv (Bm) is the classic bittersweet move before returning to F♯.
Seventh chords in F♯ major
Stack one more third on each triad for the seventh chords: F♯maj7, G♯m7, A♯m7, Bmaj7, C♯7, D♯m7 and E♯m7♭5. C♯7 is the only dominant seventh, which is why it pulls so strongly to F♯.
Playing in F♯ major on guitar
F♯ major is awkward in open position, so most guitarists use a capo: capo 2nd fret with E major shapes, capo 4th fret with D major shapes or capo 6th fret with C major shapes. Barre chords work too.
Transpose a chord chart · How a capo works
Other keys
Key of F♯ major: questions
What chords are in the key of F♯ major?
F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m and E♯dim. As numerals: I = F♯, ii = G♯m, iii = A♯m, IV = B, V = C♯, vi = D♯m, vii° = E♯dim.
How many sharps or flats are in F♯ major?
Six sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯).
What is the relative minor of F♯ major?
The relative minor of F♯ major is D♯ minor. Both use a key signature of six sharps. E♭ minor is enharmonically equivalent to D♯ minor, but it uses six flats.
What are the I, IV and V chords in F♯ major?
F♯ (I), B (IV) and C♯ (V). With those three you can accompany most folk and blues tunes in the key.
How do I play in F♯ major on guitar with a capo?
Capo 2nd fret, then play E major shapes (E, B, C♯m, A); they sound as F♯, C♯, D♯m, B.
Chord spellings follow the key signature of F♯ major; all of them are checked automatically. Updated September 2026.