F♯ Chord on Guitar
Notes F♯ A♯ C♯. Start with the 4-string F♯ (x x 4 3 2 2, the easy F shape one fret up), then the E-shape barre at fret 2.
Chord · F♯ major
Easy F♯ (4 strings) · x x 4 3 2 2
movable, no open strings
E-shape barre (fret 2) · 2 4 4 3 2 2
barre, movable
D-shape, 4 strings (fret 4) · x x 4 6 7 6
movable, no open strings
A-shape barre (fret 9) · x 9 11 11 11 9
barre, movable
1 F♯3 A♯5 C♯
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 2 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 4
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 3
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 6 to 1 at fret 2
- String 6 (low E): index (1), fret 2
- String 5 (A): ring (3), fret 4
- String 4 (D): pinky (4), fret 4
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 3
- String 2 (B): index (1), fret 2
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 2
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): muted, do not play
- String 4 (D): index (1), fret 4
- String 3 (G): middle (2), fret 6
- String 2 (B): pinky (4), fret 7
- String 1 (high e): ring (3), fret 6
- Barre: index finger flat across strings 5 to 1 at fret 9
- String 6 (low E): muted, do not play
- String 5 (A): index (1), fret 9
- String 4 (D): ring (3), fret 11
- String 3 (G): ring (3), fret 11
- String 2 (B): ring (3), fret 11
- String 1 (high e): index (1), fret 9
Notes and formula
| Degree | Note | Interval from F♯ |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F♯ | root |
| 3 | A♯ | major 3rd |
| 5 | C♯ | perfect 5th |
Formula 1 3 5 (major). Same chord as G♭: same pitches, same shapes.
Also written F#, F sharp major, G♭, G flat major.
More on this chord type: Barre chords
Capo shapes that sound as F♯
Open shapes you may already know, moved up with a capo.
E shape + capo 2
D shape + capo 4
C shape + capo 6
Need the capo fret for a whole song? Capo calculator: any song key, any shapes. New to the capo? How to use a capo.
Progressions with F♯
| Key · progression | Chords | Listen |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ major I–V–vi–IV | F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B | |
| F♯ major I–IV–V–I | F♯ – B – C♯ – F♯ | |
| B major I–vi–IV–V | B – G♯m – E – F♯ | |
| B major vi–IV–I–V | G♯m – E – B – F♯ | |
| G♯ minor i–VI–III–VII | G♯m – E – B – F♯ |
Keys that contain F♯
| Key | F♯ is the |
|---|---|
| F♯ major | I |
| B major | V |
| G♯ minor | VII |
| D♭ major (written G♭) | IV |
| B♭ minor (written G♭) | VI |
| E♭ minor (written G♭) | III |
Minor keys here use the natural minor scale.
Playing F♯: what goes wrong
F♯ or F♯m?
Songs in D and A use F♯m (the iii chord in D, the vi in A). F♯ major is the V chord of B major, so check the "m" on the chord sheet first.
Everything from F applies
F♯ is the F shapes one fret higher. Roll the index slightly onto its edge for the barre and keep it right behind the fret wire, the same fixes as for a buzzing F.
Related chords
Learn and practise F♯
- Metronomepractise the change to F♯ at 60 BPM
- How to read chord chartsstrings, frets, fingers, x and o
- Chord finder (chord namer)name any other shape you find
FAQ
What notes are in F♯?
F♯, A♯, C♯: the 1, 3, 5 of the F♯ major chord. G♭ is the same chord spelt with a flat.
Is F♯ the same as G♭?
Yes, the same pitches and shapes. G♭ is the name in flat keys such as D♭ major, where it is the IV chord; F♯ is the name in sharp keys such as B major.