Chords in the Key of F#
The key of F# major contains seven chords: F#, G#m, A#m, B, C#, D#m and E#dim. B is the only note played natural, the other six are sharpened, and most songs in F# lean on F#, B, C# and D#m.
The seven chords on guitar
Each chord below opens its own page, with more shapes up the neck, audio for every voicing and a printable chart. Tap the play button on any card to hear it.
The seven chords on piano
The same seven chords on a keyboard, in root position. Each one opens its own page, with every inversion and the finger numbers for both hands.
IF#F♯ A♯ C♯ 
the home chord
iiG#mG♯ B D♯ 
the gentle step up from home
iiiA#mB♭ D♭ F 
the darkest of the three minors, filed as Bbm
IVBB D♯ F♯ 
the lift away from home
VC#C♯ F G♯ 
the chord that pulls back home
viD#mE♭ G♭ B♭ 
the relative minor, filed as Ebm
vii°E#dimF A♭ B 
the tense one, used sparingly, filed as Fdim
The seventh chords in F# major
Add one more note to each chord and the key gains its seventh chords, which is where most jazz and a good deal of soul begins.
Common progressions in F# major
- I - IV - V
F# B C#
Three barres on a guitar. With a capo at the second fret these become E, A and B shapes.
- I - V - vi - IV
F# C# D#m B
Comfortable on a keyboard, awkward on a guitar without a capo.
- ii - V - I
G#m C# F#
The jazz cadence, written here with sharps rather than the flats of the equivalent Gb.
Why these seven chords
On a stave, F# major is written with six sharps, which is how a reader knows the key before playing a note.
F# sits six steps round the circle of fifths, exactly opposite C. The same pitches can be written as Gb major with six flats, so the two spellings are equally awkward and a composer picks by context.
Its seventh degree is written E#, which sounds the same as F but must be spelled as a raised E so that the scale uses each letter name once. That is a notation rule, not a different note.
On guitar
Every chord in F# needs a barre, which makes it one of the least played keys in guitar music as written.
In practice guitarists reach it with a capo. Two frets up playing E shapes, or one fret up playing F shapes, both land in F# with familiar chords under the hand.
On piano
Six of the seven notes are black keys. Far from being hard, many pianists consider this one of the most comfortable keys to play, because the hand sits naturally over the raised keys.
Chopin famously started beginners on keys like this rather than C, for exactly that reason.
Questions about the key of F#
What are the 7 chords in the key of F# major?
F#, G#m, A#m, B, C#, D#m and E#dim. F#, B and C# are major, G#m, A#m and D#m are minor, and E#dim is diminished.
Is F# major the same as Gb major?
They sound identical. F# major is written with six sharps and Gb major with six flats, so neither is simpler and the choice depends on the surrounding music.
Why is the seventh chord called E#dim and not Fdim?
A major scale uses each letter name once. Since the scale already contains F#, its seventh note has to be spelled as E# even though it sounds the same as F.
What do the numbers next to each chord mean?
They are each chord's place in the key, written as Roman numerals. In F# major the I is F#, the IV is B and the V is C#. The numbering holds in every key, so the V of C is G. That is why progressions get written as numerals like I, V, vi, IV: learn one and you have it in all twelve keys.
Why are some numerals capitals and some lowercase?
The case tells you the chord quality. Capitals are major, which in F# major means F#, B and C#. Lowercase are minor: G#m, A#m and D#m. The small circle on vii° means diminished, and here that is E#dim.