The Key Of F# Major For Guitar

The key of F# major includes the notes: F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – F

When assembled in order (from highest note to lowest, or vice versa) the notes form the F# major scale.

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Why is E# included in the F# Sharp Major Scale? Isn’t E# sharp really F?

The concept of enharmonic equivalents is important in music theory. Enharmonic equivalents are two different names for the same pitch. In the case of E# and F, they are enharmonic equivalents because they represent the same pitch on a piano keyboard or any other musical instrument.

In most cases, we simply refer to E# as F, but, when it comes to key signatures, the choice of whether to use E# or F depends on the context and the need to maintain consistent notation. While E# and F are the same pitch, they have different implications within a key signature.

Key signatures are sets of sharp or flat symbols that appear at the beginning of a piece of music to indicate the key of the music and the notes that are altered (raised or lowered) from their natural state. In the context of F# major, the key signature includes six sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, and E#.

If E# were not used in the key signature and F was used instead, it would imply the presence of a note that’s not part of the F# major scale, namely F natural. This would create confusion in the key and the overall harmony of the piece, as the natural F would conflict with the F# major scale’s structure.

It’s also true that each letter name (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) should appear only once within a given diatonic scale or key signature.

In the context of key signatures, this convention helps maintain clarity and consistency in notation. If a letter name were repeated within a key signature, it could lead to confusion about which notes are meant to be altered (sharpened or flattened) and which should remain natural.

So in the case of F# major, where the key signature includes the notes F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, and E#, it’s important to use the note E# instead of F, to adhere to the note naming convention. This ensures that each letter name appears only once in the key signature, making it clear which notes are part of the key and which ones are altered.

The F# Major Scale Step Pattern

The F# Major scale, like all major scales, follows the familiar pattern of whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

The F# Major Scale on Guitar

The root F# note can be found on the 2nd fret of the 6th (E) string. One way to play this scale is to use the caged E shape scale pattern shown below.

Chords In The Key Of F# Major

All chords constructed from major scales follow the pattern of:

Major, minor, minor, Major, Major, minor, Diminished.

Maj	min	min	Maj	Maj	min	Dim
F#	g#	a#	B	C#	d#	E#

7th Chords in F# Major

7th chords add harmonic complexity and depth to music by introducing a fourth note (the 7th note of a key, counted from the root).

Like triads, the quality of a 7th chord is determined by the intervals between its notes.

Chord	Notes
F# Major 7	F#, A#, C#, E#
G# minor 7	G#, B, D#, F#
A# minor 7	A#, C#, E#, G#
B Major 7	B, D#, F#, A#
C# Dominant 7 (C7)	C#, E#, G#, B
D# minor 7	D#, F#, A#, C#
E# Half-Diminished 7 (Minor 7 Flat 5)	E#, G#, B, D#

Chord Function

Chords play roles within given keys due to the interplay between the notes that make up the chords, which allows for interesting, and pleasing chord progressions.

For example, the V chord, or dominant chord (C#maj) plays an important role in this regard, due to its instability. This instability introduces tension which hints, strongly, to us to resolve the tension by returning to the tonic chord (F#maj) to resolve.

Tonic	Supertonic	Mediant	Subdominant	Dominant	Submediant	Subtonic
I	ii	iii	IV	V	vi	vii°
F#maj	g#min	a#min	Bmaj	C#maj	d#min	E#dim

* Capitals denote Major chords, lower case denotes minor chords.

I – V – vi – IV	F#maj – C#maj – d#min – Bmaj
I – IV – V	F#maj – Bmaj – C#maj
I – vi – IV – V	F#maj – d#min – Bmaj – C#maj
I – IV – vi – V	F#maj – Bmaj – d#min – C#maj
I – V – vi – iii – IV	F#maj – C#maj – d#min – a#min – Bmaj