Piano chords · Major chord
F♯ piano chord (F♯ major)
F♯ (also written G♭) is a major chord with 3 notes. It sounds bright and settled. Here's how to find it, play it and hear it.
F♯ – A♯ – C♯ · tap any key to hear it
The notes of F♯
F♯ is built from 3 notes (1 – 3 – 5):
- F♯, the root
- A♯, the major third
- C♯, the fifth
Every note is a black key, so your hand sits further into the keyboard. It feels unusual at first, but black-key chords are often the most comfortable once you're used to them.
Fingering
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 5 on C♯.
- Left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 1 on C♯.
Press every key at exactly the same moment, with the same weight. If one note sounds louder or a fraction late, the chord sounds uneven: play it slowly and listen for one sound.
Inversions
An inversion is the same notes in a different order, with a different note at the bottom. Inversions let you move between chords without jumping around the keyboard.
| Position | Notes, bottom to top |
|---|---|
| Root position | F♯ – A♯ – C♯ |
| 1st inversion | A♯ – C♯ – F♯ |
| 2nd inversion | C♯ – F♯ – A♯ |
Where F♯ belongs
F♯ is the I chord in F♯ major, the IV chord in C♯ major and the V chord in B major. Its relative minor is D♯m, which shares two of its notes.
F♯m is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (A♯ becomes A), which turns it from bright to dark.
Hear it in a progression
F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B: I – V – vi – IV, the progression behind countless pop songs.
Playing it, but it doesn't sound right? Ivory listens to you play and tells you what's off: a note that's missing, a hand that lands late, a chord that's uneven. Then it shows you how it should go.
Questions people ask
What notes are in the F♯ chord?
F♯ (F♯ major) is made of F♯, A♯ and C♯: the root, major third and fifth.
How do you play F♯ on piano?
With your right hand, use fingers 1 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 5 on C♯, and press them together. With your left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 1 on C♯.
What's the difference between F♯ and F♯m?
F♯m is the same chord with the middle note a half step lower (A♯ becomes A), which turns it from bright to dark.