F♯ major seventh (F♯maj7) chord on mandolin

Major seventh chord (a major triad plus a major seventh) on F♯: the notes of the F♯maj7 chord are F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ major seventh (G♭maj7).

Dots show:

Basic shapemedium

Position 8medium

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What the F♯maj7 chord sounds like

The major seventh chord sounds soft, dreamy and a little jazzy. The major seventh sits a half step below the root, so it rubs gently against it without needing to resolve.

Notes of the F♯maj7 chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F♯	root
3	A♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	C♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones) – often omitted on fretted instruments
7	E♯	major seventh (11 semitones)

How to play it – with fingering

Basic shape

String 1 (E): fret 1, index finger (E♯5)
String 2 (A): fret 4, little finger (C♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 4, little finger (F♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 3, ring finger (A♯3)

Position 8

String 1 (E): fret 9, ring finger (C♯6)
String 2 (A): fret 9, middle finger (F♯5)
String 3 (D): fret 8, index finger (A♯4)
String 4 (G): fret 10, little finger (E♯4)

Tuning: G D A E, like a violin; every note is a pair of strings that you fret together. In the diagram, × means the string is not played, and a circle means an open string.

Which keys is it in?

The F♯maj7 chord is built from the notes of these keys (for minor keys, both the natural and the harmonic minor are considered):

F♯ major: Imaj7 (tonic)
D♯ minor: IIImaj7

Similar chords and substitutes

If F♯maj7 is too hard, or you want a different colour in the same spot, these chords are worth a try.

Substitutes (by function)

E♭m7 – relative minor seventh: three shared notes
B♭m7 – mediant minor seventh: three shared notes
F♯6 – another tonic colour, more vintage and swingy

Simpler versions

F♯ – all 3 of its notes are in this chord

Richer versions

F♯maj9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯maj7 chord?

F♯, A♯, C♯, E♯. The root is F♯; the intervals of the other notes from the root: major third, perfect fifth, major seventh.

What is the easiest way to play F♯maj7 on mandolin?

The easiest shape above is “Basic shape”. We show 2 shapes, from open and easy versions to movable barre shapes higher up the neck.

How do I read the chord diagram?

Strings run from the lowest (left) to the highest (right) – tick “Left-handed” to mirror it. Rows are frets; a number at the side shows the starting fret. Dots are fingers (1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little), a long bar is a barre, × means don't play that string and ○ means play it open.

Why is a note missing from some F♯maj7 shapes?

On a fretted instrument you can't always play every note of a 4-note chord. The fifth (C♯) may be dropped – the chord keeps its character without it.

How is the F♯maj7 chord written?

The chord symbol is F♯maj7 (also written F#maj7), and its full name is F♯ major seventh.