F#5 Guitar Chord

F#5 is the F sharp power chord. It has two notes: F sharp and C sharp. There is no third, so it is neither major nor minor, and the usual shape puts the root on the low E string at the 2nd fret.

Root on the low E string at the 2nd fret, the fifth on the A above it and the root again on the D. Movable: slide this grip anywhere and it is still a power chord.

How to play F#5, step by step

Index finger: 2nd fret, low E string
Ring finger: 4th fret, A string
Pinky finger: 4th fret, D string
Strum only the low E and A and D strings, and stop the downstroke at the D.

This shape is one fret below G5 and one above F5. Practise sliding between all three: that movement is most of what a rock rhythm guitarist does.

More ways to play F#5

There are 5 common F#5 shapes in total: the standard one at the top of the page, plus these, easiest first. You only ever need one. Tap any card to hear it.

F#5 guitar chord diagram, two strings, root on the low e, played 24xxxx — Two strings, root on the low E

F#5 guitar chord diagram, root on the d string, played xx467x — Root on the D string

F#5 guitar chord diagram, root on the a string, played x 9 11 11 x x — Root on the A string

F#5 guitar chord diagram, two strings, root on the a, played x 9 11 x x x — Two strings, root on the A

If it sounds noisy

Strings above the chord ring: Only the bottom three strings belong here. Flatten the fingers slightly onto the G string and stop the strum at the D.
The root buzzes: The index takes the 2nd fret of the low E. Press right behind the fret with the fingertip; this string needs the most pressure of any.
Noise when changing chords: Let the pressure go before the hand moves. The scraping sound comes from dragging pressed fingers along wound strings.

What makes it an F#5

F♯ · C♯ 1 5

F#5 is F sharp with its perfect fifth, C sharp. The A sharp of F sharp major and the A of F sharp minor are both left out.

Because no third is present, the chord fits over both, and because there is no third to distort, it stays clear through any amount of gain.

F#5 vs F#

Full F sharp major is a barre chord at the 2nd fret. F#5 uses the same root but only two fingers and three strings.

In rock and metal, F sharp 5 is far more common than F sharp major. In pop and folk, where the third matters, the barre chord is still the right choice.