F♯ Major Scale (F#)
The F# major scale (also called F# Ionian) contains F# – G# – A# – B – C# – D# – E#. Its key signature has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#. It uses the same piano keys as Gb major, spelled Gb – Ab – Bb – Cb – Db – Eb – F (6 flats).
| Note | F# | G# | A# | B | C# | D# | E# | F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Left hand | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
F# major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to B and E#. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to C# and finger 4 crosses over the thumb to F#. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
F# major has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#. Its relative minor is D# minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of F# major and of Eb minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from F# |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | 0 |
| 2 | G# | 2 |
| 3 | A# | 4 |
| 4 | B | 5 |
| 5 | C# | 7 |
| 6 | D# | 9 |
| 7 | E# | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in F# Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in F# Major.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | F# | F# A# C# |
| 2 | ii | G#m | G# B D# |
| 3 | iii | A#m | A# C# E# |
| 4 | IV | B | B D# F# |
| 5 | V | C# | C# E# G# |
| 6 | vi | D#m | D# F# A# |
| 7 | vii° | E#dim | E# G# B |
Other modes on F#
More scales on F#
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F# Major scale?
The F# Major scale contains F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#, then returns to F# an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the F# major scale on piano?
Going up from F# to F#, the right hand plays 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 and the left hand plays 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 4, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many sharps are in F# major?
F# major has 6 sharps: F#, C#, G#, D#, A# and E#.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the F# Major scale?
The diatonic chords are F#, G#m, A#m, B, C#, D#m, E#dim. Each is built only from notes of the F# Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.