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Chords in the key of F# major

The notes of F# major are F# G# A# B C# D# E#. Each note makes one chord, so these are the seven chords that belong together. Its relative minor is D# minor, which uses exactly the same chords.

The seven chords in F# major

NumberChordFeels likeWhat it does
I F# Home The chord the key is named after. Songs usually start and end here, and it feels like coming home.
ii G#m Setup A soft minor chord that leads naturally into V.
iii A#m Soft A gentle minor chord that sounds a lot like I. Used less often.
IV B Lift Moves away from home without much tension. A warm, open sound.
V C# Tension Builds tension that wants to fall back to I. The strongest pull in the key.
vi D#m Relative minor The relative minor: the same notes, starting from here. Adds a sad or reflective mood.
vii° E#dim Tense An unstable chord that pulls toward I. Rare in folk, rock and country.

How to play them

F#

NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4 2
NUT E A D G B e 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

G#m

4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4
4fr E A D G B e 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

A#m

NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2
NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

B

NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3
NUT E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

C#

4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3
4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 3 3

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

D#m

6fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2
6fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

E#dim

8fr E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×
8fr E A D G B e × 1 2 4 3 ×

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Tap a chord to see it bigger.

Want to play F# higher up the neck? See F# in all five CAGED shapes.

Famous progressions in F#

Each one is written as numbers first, then as the real chords in F# major. Play each chord for one bar (four beats) unless you decide otherwise.

The three-chord song

I IV V

F# B C#

The backbone of rock, country, folk and blues. Three chords are enough for hundreds of songs, so this is the first progression to learn.

Heard in: Twist and Shout, La Bamba, Wild Thing

The four-chord progression

I V vi IV

F# C# D#m B

The most famous progression in pop. The same four chords have carried songs across every decade and style.

Heard in: Let It Be, No Woman, No Cry, Wagon Wheel, With or Without You

The four chords, starting from the minor

vi IV I V

D#m B F# C#

The same four chords as above, started from vi. The song begins on the sad chord, so it feels moodier.

Heard in: Zombie, Despacito

The 50s progression

I vi IV V

F# D#m B C#

The sound of doo-wop and early rock and roll. Sweet and a little nostalgic.

Heard in: Stand by Me, Earth Angel

The jazz turnaround

ii V I

G#m C# F#

The building block of jazz: setup, tension, home. Once you can hear it, you will hear it in everything.

Heard in: Autumn Leaves (in its major sections)

Pachelbel's Canon

I V vi iii IV I IV V

F# C# D#m A#m

B F# B C#

Eight chords that glide down and back up. It has been borrowed by pop songs for centuries.

Heard in: Canon in D, Basket Case

The 12-bar blues

I7 I7 I7 I7 IV7 IV7 I7 I7 V7 IV7 I7 V7

F#7 F#7 F#7 F#7

B7 B7 F#7 F#7

C#7 B7 F#7 C#7

Twelve bars, three chords, all played as sevenths. Each chord is one bar. The pattern behind most blues and early rock and roll.

Heard in: Rock Around the Clock, Johnny B. Goode, Hound Dog

Seventh chords used above

F#7

NUT E A D G B e 1 3 2
NUT E A D G B e 1 3 2

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

B7

NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4
NUT E A D G B e × 2 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

C#7

4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4
4fr E A D G B e × 1 3 4

The red NUT marks the start of the neck, by the tuning pegs; frets count away from it. The thickest string is the low E (the letters show each string). × = don't play it, ○ = play it open. Numbers are fingers: 1 index, 2 middle, 3 ring, 4 little.

G D A E
G D A E

Mandolin, tuned G D A E (the letters under the strings). Each string is a pair played together. ○ = open string; the dots are where your fingers go.

Songs in F# major

Put these chords to work.

Other keys

C G D A E B F# Db Ab Eb Bb F | Am Em Bm F#m C#m G#m D#m Bbm Fm Cm Gm Dm

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