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F♯ 5th chord on guitar (F♯5)
Also called or written F♯5, F♯ or F♯ power chord
F♯ 5th contains the notes F♯ and C♯. This intermediate power chord at the second fret requires a two-fret stretch between the index and ring fingers.
How it is built
Formula 1, 5
- Root positionF♯–C♯F♯52-4-4-×-×-×
- First inversionC♯–F♯F♯5/C♯9-9-11-11-×-×
How do you play an F♯ 5th chord on guitar?
F♯ 5th is played at the 2nd fret as 2 4 4 × × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 2, middle finger on the A string at fret 4 and ring finger on the D string at fret 4. The G, B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
IntermediateThe hardest part is the two-fret stretch between the index finger and the middle and ring fingers at the second fret.
9th fret
F♯ 5th is played at the 9th fret as × 9 11 11 × ×: index finger on the A string at fret 9, middle finger on the D string at fret 11 and ring finger on the G string at fret 11. The low E, B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
F♯5/C♯ inversion
F♯ 5th is played at the 9th fret as 9 9 11 11 × ×: index finger on the low E string at fret 9, middle finger on the A string at fret 9, ring finger on the D string at fret 11 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 11. The B and high e strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 5 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 4 (D) | 11 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (G) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (B) | muted | — | — |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ 5th is built from the 1st and 5th degrees of the F♯ major scale, giving the formula 1–5. The perfect fifth interval creates the open, neutral sound typical of power chords. Compare it with F♯ major, which adds the major third A♯ for a complete major triad.
What goes wrong with F♯ 5th?
- The 3rd string sounds because the fretting hand fails to mute it.
- The 2nd string rings open when the fretting hand fails to mute it.
- The 5th string buzzes because the middle finger is too far from the fret.
When to use it
F♯ 5th functions as the tonic in F♯ major progressions like F♯–B–C♯ (I–IV–V) or F♯–C♯–D♯m–B (I–V–vi–IV). Its neutral fifth suits rock, punk, and metal rhythm parts. Use it with F♯ major and C♯ major for a full major sound.
Changing to and from F♯ 5th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 1st fret gives F 5th.
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 3rd fret gives G 5th.
Which voicing to use
The 2nd fret position is the default and works well for barre chord progressions. The 9th fret position moves the shape up the neck for a higher voicing. The F♯5/C♯ inversion puts the fifth in the bass, giving a less rooted, more open sound.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ 5th written?
F♯ 5th is written as F♯5, F#5, or F♯ power chord. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ 5th and F♯ major?
F♯ 5th contains only F♯ and C♯, while F♯ major adds A♯. The missing third makes the power chord neutral and suitable for both major and minor contexts.
Can F♯ 5th be played on the 5th string?
Yes, the 9th fret position uses the 5th string at fret 9 for the root F♯. The default position uses the 6th string at fret 2 for the root F♯.