F♯ Minor Scale (F#)
The F# minor scale (also called F# natural minor or F# Aeolian) contains F# – G# – A – B – C# – D – E. Its key signature has 3 sharps: F#, C# and G#.
| Note | F# | G# | A | B | C# | D | E | F# |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 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# minor scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to A and D. 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# minor has 3 sharps: F#, C# and G#. Its relative major is A major, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of F# minor and of A major.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from F# |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F# | 0 |
| 2 | G# | 2 |
| b3 | A | 3 |
| 4 | B | 5 |
| 5 | C# | 7 |
| b6 | D | 8 |
| b7 | E | 10 |
Step pattern
The Natural Minor scale is built from the pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W (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# Natural Minor
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# Natural Minor.
| Degree | Numeral | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | i | F#m | F# A C# |
| 2 | ii° | G#dim | G# B D |
| 3 | III | A | A C# E |
| 4 | iv | Bm | B D F# |
| 5 | v | C#m | C# E G# |
| 6 | VI | D | D F# A |
| 7 | VII | E | E G# B |
Other modes on F#
More scales on F#
Natural Minor scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F# Natural Minor scale?
The F# Natural Minor scale contains F#, G#, A, B, C#, D, E, then returns to F# an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the F# minor scale on piano?
Going up from F# to F#, the right hand plays 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 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# minor?
F# minor has 3 sharps: F#, C# and G#.
What is the step pattern of the Natural Minor scale?
The Natural Minor scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – H – W – W – H – W – W, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the F# Natural Minor scale?
The diatonic chords are F#m, G#dim, A, Bm, C#m, D, E. Each is built only from notes of the F# Natural Minor scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.