Bass · key of F♯ major

Chords in the key of F♯ major

The seven chords in the key of F♯ major are F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m and E♯dim. F♯, B and C♯ are the major chords (I, IV and V), G♯m, A♯m and D♯m are the minor chords (ii, iii and vi), and E♯dim is diminished (vii°). Its relative minor is D♯ minor, which uses the same seven chords. The same key is sometimes written G♭ major.

The chords of F♯ major
NumeralTriadNotesSeventh chordNotesNumberRole
IF♯homeF♯ A♯ C♯F♯maj7homeF♯ A♯ C♯ E♯1tonic
iiG♯mrestlessG♯ B D♯G♯m7restlessG♯ B D♯ F♯2msupertonic
iiiA♯mhalf-lightA♯ C♯ E♯A♯m7half-lightA♯ C♯ E♯ G♯3mmediant
IVBthe doorB D♯ F♯Bmaj7the doorB D♯ F♯ A♯4subdominant
VC♯the pullC♯ E♯ G♯C♯7the pullC♯ E♯ G♯ B5dominant
viD♯mthe shadowD♯ F♯ A♯D♯m7the shadowD♯ F♯ A♯ C♯6msubmediant
vii°E♯dimthe edgeE♯ G♯ BE♯m7♭5the edgeE♯ G♯ B D♯7°leading tone

Strum or arpeggiate any chord, tap a note to hear it, drag the strip under a picture to play it further up the neck, or pick another inversion. Library opens the chord there, with every other way to play it.

F♯

LibraryBass · Standard

I · tonic

EADGR5R3noteF♯C♯F♯A♯roleR5R3fret2443frets 2–4C1C2C3C4

G♯m

LibraryBass · Standard

ii · supertonic

EADG4R5R♭3noteG♯D♯G♯BroleR5R♭3fret4664frets 4–6C1C2C3C4

A♯m

LibraryBass · Standard

iii · mediant

EADG6R5R♭3noteA♯E♯Same note as FA♯C♯roleR5R♭3fret6886frets 6–8C1C2C3C4

B

LibraryBass · Standard

IV · subdominant

EADG7R5R3noteBF♯BD♯roleR5R3fret7998frets 7–9C1C2C3C4

C♯

LibraryBass · Standard

V · dominant

EADG9R5R3noteC♯G♯C♯E♯Same note as FroleR5R3fret9111110frets 9–11C1C2C3C4

D♯m

LibraryBass · Standard

vi · submediant

EADG11R5R♭3noteD♯A♯D♯F♯roleR5R♭3fret11131311frets 11–13C1C2C3C4

E♯dim

LibraryBass · Standard

vii° · leading tone

EADGR♭5R♭3noteFC♭Same note as BFA♭roleR♭5R♭3fret1231frets 1–3C1C2C3C4

Chord progressions in F♯ major

Press a chord to hear it and see its shape, or Play to hear the progression on bass. The colours say what each chord does in the key.

Tempo85

↓ · ↓ ↑ · ↑ ↓ ↑ · Down, down-up, up-down-up: the campfire strum, also called the calypso strum.

Colours

homethe pullthe doorthe shadowrestlesshalf-light

What each chord does in its key. Press a chord to hear it and read more.

The three-chord trick

I | IV | V | I

Chord chart

The chords of countless folk, country, blues and rock and roll songs.

The pop progression

I | V | vi | IV

Chord chart

I–V–vi–IV, behind a great many hits since the 1980s.

The fifties progression

I | vi | IV | V

Chord chart

I–vi–IV–V, the doo-wop changes.

The pop progression from its minor chord

vi | IV | I | V

Chord chart

vi–IV–I–V: the pop progression started on its minor chord, which gives it a sadder sound.

The royal road

IV | V | iii | vi

Chord chart

IV–V–iii–vi, a favourite of Japanese pop.

ii–V–I

ii7 | V7 | Imaj7 | Imaj7

Chord chart

The turnaround of jazz, in seventh chords.

The relative minor: D♯ minor

D♯ minor (also written E♭ minor) has the same notes and the same seven chords as F♯ major, starting from E♭. A song in one often moves to the other. The parallel minor, F♯ minor, starts on the same note with a different set of chords.

The F♯ major scale and key signature

The notes of F♯ major are F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯. Its key signature has six sharps: F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, D♯ and E♯. Each chord of the key is built from these notes, a third apart: a chord on every note of the scale. See the F♯ major scale on the bass neck, and the F♯ major pentatonic.

Keys nearby

On the circle of fifths, D♭ major and B major sit on either side of F♯ major. Each shares six of its seven notes, which makes them the easiest keys to change to.

Every key

CD♭DE♭EFF♯GA♭AB♭B

C minorC♯ minorD minorE♭ minorE minorF minorF♯ minorG minorG♯ minorA minorB♭ minorB minor

All twenty-four on one page: chords in every key. To print these chords, open them as a chord chart, or make your own in the chord chart maker. This key on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.