F# major has no open version: every complete shape needs at least a small barre. The good news is that you do not need the full six string barre on day one. Build the chord on the top strings first, then add the bass, then the barre. If you already play F as a barre, you already know F#: it is the same shape, one fret higher.
F# chord: notes and shapes at a glance
- Name: F sharp major
- Symbol: F#
- Notes: F#, A#, C#
- Where it belongs: IV in C# major, I in F# major, V in B major, III in D# minor, VII in G# minor, VI in A# minor, V in B minor
Each shape below is written from the thickest string to the thinnest: a
number is the fret, 0 an open string, x a string you
do not play. New to this? See how to read chord diagrams.
| Shape | Frets, low E to high E | Notes, low to high | What it is for |
|---|---|---|---|
| F#, three strings | xxx322 | A# C# F# | The smallest complete F#: three strings, no big barre. A# is the lowest note, so it sounds light. |
| F#, four strings | xx4322 | F# A# C# F# | Adds F# on the fourth string, so the root is in the bass. A small two-string barre only. |
| F#, barre at the second fret | 244322 | F# C# F# A# C# F# | The standard F#: the open E shape moved up two frets, the first finger acting as the nut. |
| F#, barre at the ninth fret | x 9 11 11 11 9 | F# C# F# A# C# | The A shape at fret 9: first finger barre, and the third finger flat across the fourth, third and second strings at fret 11. |
Read each diagram from the thickest string on the left to the thinnest on the right. A cross means the string is not played, a circle means it rings open.
F# on the neck: every F#, A#, C#
Standard tuning, frets 0 to 12. The highlighted notes are the notes of F#: any shape you build from them, anywhere on the neck, is still F#.
F, F# or F#m: which chord do you need?
Three names, three different chords, and they are easy to mix up on a chord sheet.
F# is F moved up one fret. F#m is F# with one note lowered, on the third string. A plain "F#" on a chart always means the major chord.
How to play F#, one layer at a time
1. Three strings: xxx322
First finger flat across the first and second strings at fret 2 (F# and C#), second finger on the third string at fret 3 (A#). Strum only those three strings. Every note of F# is there.
2. Four strings: xx4322
Add the third finger on the fourth string at fret 4. That is F#, the root, now at the bottom of the chord. This is the shape to use in songs while the full barre is still coming.
3. The full barre: 244322
Lay the first finger across all six strings at fret 2. Move the third finger to the fifth string at fret 4 and put the fourth finger on the fourth string at fret 4; the second finger stays on the third string at fret 3. The first finger only has to sound three strings by itself: the low E, the B and the high E.
Getting in and out of F#
F# turns up most in sharp keys: as the V chord of B and B minor, the IV of C#, and home in F#. These changes are the ones you will meet.
| Change | Shapes | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| F# to F#m | 244322 to 244222 | Lift the second finger only. The barre takes over the third string. |
| F# to B | 244322 to x24442 | V to I in B. The barre stays at fret 2; only the upper fingers move. |
| Bm to F# | x24432 to 244322 | The i to V of B minor. Keep the first finger down and slide it from five strings to six. |
| F# to F#7 | 244322 to 242322 | Lift the fourth finger: the barre plays E, the seventh. |
For the chords around it, see B, B minor, F#7 and C#. To hear F# in a song: Lenny Kravitz's It Ain't Over 'til It's Over moves between F# and F#m, among other chords.
Why your F# buzzes, and the fix
- The high E or B is dead. The first finger is too far from the fret wire, or a crease lands under a string. Slide it up behind the fret and roll it slightly onto its bony edge.
- The third string is muffled. The fourth finger, on the fourth string, leans onto it. Arch it and press with the tip.
- The hand tires fast. Thumb behind the neck, roughly opposite the second finger. Pinch, do not squeeze, and press only as hard as the notes need.
The method for every barre chord is laid out on the barre chords page.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play an F# chord on guitar?
Is there an easy F# chord without a full barre?
What notes are in an F# major chord?
Are F# and Gb the same chord?
What is the difference between F# and F#m?
Who made this
Guitar Social Club is the work of Yohann Abbou, a guitar teacher in Paris who teaches adults. Every shape on this page is written string by string and checked against standard tuning, and the diagrams are drawn from those same fret numbers. The rest of our free guitar tools, including the chord finder, work the same way.
More about Yohann on his page, and about why Guitar Social Club exists.