Explore chords · Guitar
F♯ 6th chord on guitar (F♯6)
Also called or written F♯6 or F♯
F♯ 6th contains F♯, A♯, C♯ and D♯. The 1st fret shape bars the A and D strings with the index finger while the pinky reaches the 3rd fret.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 6
- Root positionF♯–A♯–C♯–D♯F♯62-1-1-3-2-×
- First inversionA♯–C♯–D♯–F♯F♯6/A♯×-1-1-3-2-2
- Second inversionC♯–D♯–F♯–A♯F♯6/C♯×-4-4-3-4-×
- Third inversionD♯–F♯–A♯–C♯F♯6/D♯×-×-1-3-2-2
How do you play an F♯ 6th chord on guitar?
F♯ 6th is played at the 1st fret as 2 1 1 3 2 ×: barre your index finger across fret 1, middle finger on the low E string at fret 2, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3 and ring finger on the B string at fret 2. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 2 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (6) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the A and D strings at the 1st fret while the pinky stretches to the 3rd fret G string, which requires finger independence.
4th fret
F♯ 6th is played at the 4th fret as × × 4 6 4 6: index finger on the D string at fret 4, ring finger on the G string at fret 6, middle finger on the B string at fret 4 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6. The low E and A strings stay muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | muted | — | — |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 2 | D♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
13th fret
F♯ 6th is played at the 13th fret as 14 13 13 15 14 ×: barre your index finger across fret 13, middle finger on the low E string at fret 14, pinky finger on the G string at fret 15 and ring finger on the B string at fret 14. The high e string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 14 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 5 (A) | 13 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 13 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (6) |
| 3 (G) | 15 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 14 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | muted | — | — |
F♯6/A♯ inversion · fret 1
F♯ 6th is played at the 1st fret as × 1 1 3 2 2: barre your index finger across fret 1, pinky finger on the G string at fret 3, middle finger on the B string at fret 2 and ring finger on the high e string at fret 2. The low E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 5 (A) | 1 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (3) |
| 4 (D) | 1 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (6) |
| 3 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (B) | 2 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (e) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
F♯6/A♯ inversion · fret 4
F♯ 6th is played at the 4th fret as 6 4 4 6 4 6: barre your index finger across fret 4, middle finger on the low E string at fret 6, ring finger on the G string at fret 6 and pinky finger on the high e string at fret 6.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 (E) | 6 | 2 | A♯ (3) |
| 5 (A) | 4 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 4 (D) | 4 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (G) | 6 | 3 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (B) | 4 | 1 (barre) | D♯ (6) |
| 1 (e) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ 6th is built from the formula 1, 3, 5, 6. The major sixth D♯ added to the F♯ major triad gives the chord a bright, singing quality. Compare it with F♯ major, which lacks the sixth.
What goes wrong with F♯ 6th?
- Letting the high e string ring: mute it with the ring finger, or the open E clashes with the chord.
- Not pressing the barre hard enough on the D string, causing a buzz.
- Flattening the pinky onto the B string and deadening it.
When to use it
F♯ 6th is the tonic in F♯ major, used in the I–IV–V–I progression F♯–B–C♯–F♯. Its bright colour suits rock and pop. Use it to add sparkle to an F♯ major chord in a chorus.
Changing to and from F♯ 6th
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives G 6th; the barre and fingers move as a unit.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret shape keeps the root F♯ in the bass and is the most common movable form. The F♯6/A♯ inversion at the 1st fret places the third A♯ in the bass, which gives a lighter, more open sound.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ 6th written?
The symbol F♯6 is the most common spelling, and the ASCII root is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
Can I play F♯ 6th with a barre at the 13th fret?
Yes, the 13th fret shape is a full barre with the root on the A string. It is easier to move up the neck than the 1st fret shape.
Why is the high e string muted in the 1st fret shape?
The high e is not a chord tone, so it must be muted to keep the voicing clean and avoid a clash.