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F-sharp Major Chord
The F-sharp Major Chord is F-sharp, A-sharp, and C-sharp, all three on black keys. The hand can rest right on top of the black keys, which makes it one of the most comfortable major chords to play. Because the keys are narrow, it helps to keep the fingers close to the keys and let the hand sit a little further in than usual.
How to play the F-sharp Major Chord on the piano
Let’s go through some charts that will familiarize you with the F-sharp Major Chord and how to play it in the various forms you will encounter in pieces of music. First, we’ll look at the fundamental chord and its inversions; then, we’ll explore some more complex voicings.
The F-sharp Major Chord in root position
In root position, the notes of the F♯ major chord are stacked in thirds with F♯ on the bottom. The appearance on the staff is evenly spaced, as is the feeling of the space in between your fingers while playing.
| F-sharp Major Chord in root position | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | F♯ A♯ C♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | F♯ |
The F-sharp Major Chord in first inversion
In first inversion, the third of the chord (A♯) becomes the bottom note, and the root (F♯) jumps up to the top.
| F-sharp Major Chord in 1st inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | A♯ C♯ F♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 3 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 2 5 |
| Chord Symbol | F♯6 or F♯/A♯ |
The F-sharp Major Chord in second inversion
In second inversion, the fifth of the chord (C♯) is on the bottom, and the third of the chord (A♯) goes to the top.
| F-sharp Major Chord in 2nd inversion | |
|---|---|
| Note Order | C♯ F♯ A♯ |
| Left Hand Fingering | 5 2 1 |
| Right Hand Fingering | 1 3 5 |
| Chord Symbol | F♯6/4 or F♯/C♯ |
F-sharp Major Chord theory and function
A major chord is the most settled sound in tonal music. What it does depends on the key around it: it can be home, it can lead away from home, or it can pull back toward it.
The F♯ major chord is the dominant (V) in B major. In minor keys, it is the subtonic (VII) in G♯ minor and the dominant (V) in B minor. On the keyboard this is the same chord as G♭ major, and the spelling follows the key. The G♭ major chord is the tonic (I) in G♭ major and the subdominant (IV) in D♭ major. In minor keys, it is the mediant (III) in E♭ minor and the submediant (VI) in B♭ minor.
Three chords, I, IV, and V, account for a great deal of the hymns, folk songs, and early classical pieces a student will meet. In G♭ major that is G♭ – C♭ – D♭ – G♭. Try listening for the job the chord is doing: after the dominant it sounds like arriving, and after the tonic it sounds like stepping away.
Other chords built on F-sharp
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