F Sharp Major Scale Explained: The Complete Guide

By Jade Bultitude
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The F Sharp Major scale contains 7 notes: F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D and E#

F Sharp Major scale, notes named underneath
F Sharp Major Scale

You might see the scale written as starting and ending on a F# and this can give the scale a ‘complete’ sound. The scale can also be repeating at higher or lower octaves and technically goes on forever. 

F Sharp Major is a diatonic scale, which means that it is in a key, in this case the key of F#!

How Is The F sharp Major Scale Created?

All Major scales follow a specific pattern of tones and semitones (steps and half steps). The tone pattern is:

Tone, Tone, Semi-tone, Tone, Tone, Tone, Semi-tone

If we take the start at a C and follow the pattern we will get the C Major Scale. To create the G flat Major scale, follow the tone/semitone pattern starting on the note F#. 

 Whichever note you start on, you will always achieve the major scale starting on this note. 

F Sharp Major scale, with tone and semitone labels

F Sharp Major Scale On The Piano

As you can see, if we were to play this scale on the piano diagram we make use of six black keys.  

F Sharp Major scale, on piano with notes named

To play this scale on the piano (with the right hand) use the fingering written below. 

F Sharp Major scale, piano fingering, right hand

F Sharp Major Scale On The Guitar

To play F# Major on the guitar use the tab below. 

F Sharp Major scale, guitar tab, two octaves

Degrees Of The Scale: F# Major  

Each note in the F# Major scale has a position that we call the degree of the scale. The first note of the scale is called the ‘tonic’ note. 

F Sharp Major scale, with degrees of scale labelled

All the degree of the scale have specific names as shown below.

  • 1st – Tonic
  • 2nd – Supertonic
  • 3rd – Mediant
  • 4th – Subdominant
  • 5th – Dominant
  • 6th – Submediant
  • 7th Leading Note

Key Signature For F# Major

Rather than writing the flat signs on the individual notes, we can make use of the key signature. Because every single F, C, G, D, A and E in the F# major scale major are sharp, we can simply write this at the start of the piece!

F Sharp Major scale, key signature, treble clef
F# Major Key Signature

And here it is with the full scale. 

F Sharp Major scale, treble clef with key signature

Learn more about key signatures with our complete guide.

F Sharp Major Scale In Different Clefs

Treble Clef 

Below is the F# Major Scale written out in the treble clef, both ascending and descending. 

F Sharp Major scale, treble clef, ascending and descending
F# Major Scale – Treble Clef

Bass Clef

Below is the F# Major Scale written out in the bass clef, both ascending and descending. 

F Sharp Major scale,bass clef, ascending and descending
F# Major Scale – Bass Clef 

Alto Clef

Below is the F# Major Scale written out in the alto clef, both ascending and descending. 

F Sharp Major scale, alto clef, ascending and descending
F# Major Scale – Alto Clef

Tenor Clef

Below is the F# Major Scale written out in the tenor clef, both ascending and descending. 

F Sharp Major scale, tenor clef, ascending and descending
F# Major Scale – Tenor Clef

What Is The Relative Minor Of The F Sharp Major Scale?

As you can see from the circle of fifths below, D sharp minor is the relative minor scale of F sharp Major. This means that D sharp minor has the same 6 sharps as F sharp major, but it start and ends on D#. 

circle of fifths, f# major and D# minor highlighted
Circle of Fifths showing F# Major and D# Minor

Learn more about Minor Scales with our complete guide. 

What Are The Chords In The F Sharp Major Scale?

There are chords start on each note of the F sharp Scale. See our dedicated post on chords in F sharp major.

Enharmonic Equivalent Scales

F# Major and Gb Major are enharmonic equivalent scales. This means that they share all the same notes, but just written using enharmonic equivalent notes. You can see this below in the image of both scales.

g flat major on piano with key lablled, underneath f sharp major on piano

For example, the note E sharp is in F# Major and the note F natural is in Gb Major. Both these notes are enharmonic equivalents, meaning they sound the same. Learn more about the G flat major scale here.

 What Do We Mean When We Say A Piece Is ‘In The Key Of F# Major’?

 If we say that a piece of music is in the key of F sharp major, this means a few things:

  • The key signature will have six sharps, these being the following notes: F sharp, C sharp, G sharp, D sharp, A sharp and E sharp.
  • The tonic (or root note) of the piece will be F sharp. This note will sound the most stable in the whole piece.
  • The piece will mostly use notes from this scale, these could be in any octave.
  • The chords used will be those chords that are in F# major. 

What’s Next

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AUTHOR
Jade is a flute player and music educator with a passion for educating the next generation of musicians. She is a Masters Graduate from Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. Jade has been helping people learn music theory for more than 10 years from pre school children all the way to degree level studies.