F sharp major scale
The F♯ major scale is F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯. It has 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯), its relative minor is D♯ minor, and the standard piano fingering is 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 in the right hand and 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 in the left hand.
F sharp major scale notes
The F♯ major scale has seven notes before the tonic repeats: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯. Five of the seven are black keys on the piano (F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯); the other two are white keys.
The step pattern is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between A♯ and B and E♯ and F♯.
| Degree | Name | Note | Solfège (movable do) | Piano key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F♯ | do | Black |
| 2 | Supertonic | G♯ | re | Black |
| 3 | Mediant | A♯ | mi | Black |
| 4 | Subdominant | B | fa | White |
| 5 | Dominant | C♯ | sol | Black |
| 6 | Submediant | D♯ | la | Black |
| 7 | Leading tone | E♯ | ti | White |
F sharp major key signature
The F♯ major key signature has 6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯, written in that order at the start of every line. Sharps are always added in the order F, C, G, D, A, E, B. D♯ minor shares this signature.
On the treble staff, the sharps sit F♯ on the fifth line from the bottom, C♯ in the third space from the bottom, G♯ in the space just above the top line, D♯ on the fourth line from the bottom, A♯ in the second space from the bottom and E♯ in the fourth space from the bottom.
Shortcut: the last sharp, E♯, is one half step below the major tonic (F♯).
F sharp major sounds the same as G♭ major, which is written with 6 flats. The piano keys are identical; only the spelling changes, and most music uses the spelling with fewer accidentals.
F sharp major scale fingering
| Hand | Notes (ascending) | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯ | 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 |
| Left hand | F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯ | 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 |
Right hand going up: A♯ (finger 4) to B (finger 1), the thumb passes under; then D♯ (finger 3) to E♯ (finger 1), the thumb passes under. Left hand going up: B (finger 1) to C♯ (finger 3), the finger passes over the thumb; then E♯ (finger 1) to F♯ (finger 4), the finger passes over the thumb. Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) in both hands.
The thumb stays on white keys in both hands; the black keys go to the longer fingers. For two octaves and the descending pattern, open the free piano scale fingering tool linked below.
Chords in F sharp major
Building a triad on each note of the scale gives the seven chords of F♯ major. The primary chords are F♯ (I), B (IV) and C♯ (V).
| Degree | Triad | Notes | Seventh chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | F♯ | F♯ A♯ C♯ | F♯maj7 | F♯ A♯ C♯ E♯ |
| ii | G♯m | G♯ B D♯ | G♯m7 | G♯ B D♯ F♯ |
| iii | A♯m | A♯ C♯ E♯ | A♯m7 | A♯ C♯ E♯ G♯ |
| IV | B | B D♯ F♯ | Bmaj7 | B D♯ F♯ A♯ |
| V | C♯ | C♯ E♯ G♯ | C♯7 | C♯ E♯ G♯ B |
| vi | D♯m | D♯ F♯ A♯ | D♯m7 | D♯ F♯ A♯ C♯ |
| vii° | E♯° | E♯ G♯ B | E♯m7♭5 | E♯ G♯ B D♯ |
One of the most common progressions in pop music, I V vi IV, is F♯, C♯, D♯m, B in F♯ major. A ii V I cadence is G♯m7, C♯7, F♯maj7.
Reading F sharp major on the staff
F sharp major sounds the same as G flat major: six sharps or six flats, the same keys on the piano. One of its notes is E sharp, which is played on the white key usually called F.
On the treble staff, F♯4 to F♯5 needs no ledger lines. On the bass staff, F♯3 to F♯4 needs 2 ledger lines above the staff. Because of those ledger lines, left hand parts in this key are often written an octave lower, from F♯2.
The reading trap in F♯ major is the key signature: the sharps are written once at the start of the line, not next to the notes. Before you play, say the altered notes out loud (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯), then check every F, C, G, D, A and E on the page.
How to practise the F sharp major scale
- Say the notes before you play them: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯.
- Play hands separately, one octave, at a slow steady pulse (60 beats per minute, one note per beat), using 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 in the right hand and 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 in the left.
- Stop on each thumb crossing and check the next finger is already over its key before you move.
- Add the descending scale with the same fingers in reverse, then go to two octaves.
- Put the hands together only when each hand can play it three times in a row without a stop, then raise the tempo by about 8 beats per minute at a time.
- Finish with the primary chords: F♯ (F♯ A♯ C♯), B (B D♯ F♯) and C♯ (C♯ E♯ G♯).
Clef, our iPhone and iPad app, drills major scales, triads and arpeggios with its on-screen controls or a connected MIDI keyboard, then brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays learned.
Keys related to F sharp major
- D sharp minor scale (same keys as E flat minor): relative minor, same key signature
- F sharp minor scale: parallel minor, same tonic
- C sharp major scale (same keys as D flat major): a fifth above, 7 sharps
- B major scale: a fifth below, 5 sharps
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the F sharp major scale?
The F♯ major scale is F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, F♯, then F♯ again an octave higher.
How many sharps are in F sharp major?
F sharp major has 6 sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯.
What is the relative minor of F sharp major?
D♯ minor. It uses the same key signature and the same notes, starting on D♯.
What chords are in F sharp major?
F♯ (I), G♯m (ii), A♯m (iii), B (IV), C♯ (V), D♯m (vi), E♯° (vii°).
What is the fingering for the F sharp major scale on piano?
Right hand 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 going up from F♯; left hand 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4 going up. Reverse the numbers to come down.