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Guitar scales · Major (Ionian)

F♯ major scale on guitar (F# major)

The F♯ major scale has seven notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E♯ (played as F). As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Notes and pattern

The F♯ major scale

The reference scale. Bright and resolved; every other scale is described against it. Play it to hear it up and down.

From note to note it climbs 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2 and 1 : whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

F♯ major has the same notes as D♯ minor, starting from F♯. See that scale.

  1. F♯1
  2. G♯2
  3. A♯3
  4. B4
  5. C♯5
  6. D♯6
  7. E♯7
EADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BD♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯
  • F♯, the root
  • Other scale notes

Positions

F♯ major in five positions

The splits the neck into five overlapping positions, one per shape. Learn one, then join it to the next.

F♯ major · the whole neck

Five positions, each overlapping the next, repeating every 12 frets.

EEDDCAGGEADGBE0135791215F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯F♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BD♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯E♯G♯A♯BC♯D♯E♯
  • Root (F♯)
  • Scale tone

Chords

Chords from the F♯ major scale

Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get its chords.

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Hear the chords and progressions in F♯ major

Same root

Other scales on F♯

Change a note or two and the same takes on a new mood.

Questions

F♯ major, in short

What notes are in the F♯ major scale?
The F♯ major scale has seven notes: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯ and E♯ (played as F). As degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
What chords go with the F♯ major scale?
The chords built on F♯ major are F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m and E♯°.
What is the relative minor of F♯ major?
F♯ major has the same notes as D♯ minor, starting from F♯.
All guitar scales