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F♯ major 7th chord on ukulele (F♯maj7)
Also called or written F♯maj7 or F♯M7
F♯ major 7th is built from F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯. The default voicing is a barre at the 6th fret with a pinky stretch to fret 8.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5, 7
How do you play an F♯ major 7th chord on ukulele?
F♯ major 7th is played at the 6th fret as 6 6 6 8: barre your index finger across fret 6 and pinky finger on the A string at fret 8.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 1 (barre) | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 1 (barre) | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 1 (barre) | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 4 | E♯ (7) |
AdvancedThe index barre must fret the G, C and E strings cleanly at fret 6 while the pinky reaches fret 8 on the A string.
F♯maj7/A♯ inversion
F♯ major 7th is played at the 9th fret as 10 10 9 9: ring finger on the G string at fret 10, pinky finger on the C string at fret 10, index finger on the E string at fret 9 and middle finger on the A string at fret 9.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 3 | E♯ (7) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ major 7th stacks an F♯ major triad (F♯–A♯–C♯) with a major seventh (E♯). The E♯ is the interval that gives the chord its bright, shimmering quality. Compare it with F♯ major, which stops at the fifth and sounds more direct.
What goes wrong with F♯ major 7th?
- Letting the pinky flatten onto the E string, which deadens its note.
- Pressing the barre unevenly, causing a buzz on the C string.
- Striking the G string too softly, losing the root in the chord.
When to use it
F♯ major 7th is the tonic in F♯ major, so it anchors progressions like F♯–B–C♯–F♯, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV loop of F♯–C♯–D♯ minor–B. Use it for jazz or neo-soul where the seventh adds richness.
Changing to and from F♯ major 7th
- Sliding the shape down one fret to the 5th fret gives F major 7th.
- From F♯ major 7th, lift the pinky to leave the barre for F♯ major.
Which voicing to use
The F♯maj7/D♭ inversion at 6-6-6-8 puts C♯ in the bass, which makes the chord feel more open. The F♯maj7/F inversion at 10-10-9-9 is a higher register option with E♯ in the bass.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ major 7th written?
F♯ major 7th is written F♯M7 or F♯maj7. The ASCII root is F#, so you may see F#M7 or F#maj7. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ major 7th and F♯ major?
F♯ major 7th adds the note E♯ to the F♯ major triad. That seventh creates a more airy, suspended sound than the plain major chord.
Why does the F♯maj7/D♭ inversion sound different?
The F♯maj7/D♭ inversion places C♯ in the bass instead of F♯. This makes the chord less stable and often leads to B major or C♯ major.