F♯ major (F♯) chord on piano

Looking for the F♯ chord on piano? It is a major triad, made of three notes: F♯ – A♯ – C♯. The same chord with a different spelling: G♭ major (G♭).

Root position: F♯4 – A♯4 – C♯5

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What the F♯ chord sounds like

A major triad sounds stable and bright: root, major third and perfect fifth. Most songs are built on major chords – in a major key, chords I, IV and V are all major.

Notes of the F♯ chord

Degree	Note	Interval from the root
1	F♯	root
3	A♯	major third (4 semitones)
5	C♯	perfect fifth (7 semitones)

Root position and inversions

An inversion uses the same notes, with a different note at the bottom. When you change chords, choosing the nearest inversion keeps your hand almost still.

Root position

F♯4 – A♯4 – C♯5

1st inversion

A♯4 – C♯5 – F♯5

2nd inversion

C♯5 – F♯5 – A♯5

Which keys is it in?

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

F♯ major: I (tonic)
B major: V (dominant)
B minor: V (dominant)
G♯ minor: VII
D♯ minor: III

Similar chords and substitutes

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

Substitutes (by function)

E♭m – relative minor: two shared notes, a common stand-in for the tonic
B♭m – mediant minor (iii): two shared notes
F♯maj7 – a softer, jazzier tonic colour
F♯sus4 – suspended version that resolves back to this chord

Richer versions

F♯7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F♯maj7 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F♯6 – the same chord plus 1 colour note
F♯add9 – the same chord plus 1 colour note

Frequently asked questions

What notes are in the F♯ chord?

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

How do I play the F♯ chord on piano?

In root position, the right hand usually plays with fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle finger, little finger); four-note chords with fingers 1, 2, 3 and 5. The left hand mirrors this: 5, 3, 1. In an inversion the top or bottom note moves to the other side, so your hand moves less when you change chords.

How is the F♯ chord written?

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