Explore chords · Ukulele
F♯ chord on ukulele (F♯ major)
Also called or written F♯, F♯maj, F♯M or F♯ chord
F♯ major contains F♯, A♯ and C♯. The 4th fret shape is an intermediate grip that mutes the G string and uses three fretted notes.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5
How do you play an F♯ major chord on ukulele?
F♯ major is played at the 4th fret as × 6 6 4: middle finger on the C string at fret 6, ring finger on the E string at fret 6 and index finger on the A string at fret 4. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
IntermediateThe 4th fret shape requires muting the G string while fretting three other strings, which can be tricky for intermediate players.
F♯/A♯ inversion
F♯ major is played at the 9th fret as 11 10 9 9: pinky finger on the G string at fret 11, ring 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) | 11 | 4 | F♯ (1) |
| 3 (C) | 10 | 3 | A♯ (3) |
| 2 (E) | 9 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 1 (A) | 9 | 2 | F♯ (1) |
F♯/C♯ inversion
F♯ major is played at the 1st fret as 3 1 2 1: pinky finger on the G string at fret 3, index finger on the C string at fret 1, ring finger on the E string at fret 2 and middle finger on the A string at fret 1.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 3 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 3 (C) | 1 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
| 2 (E) | 2 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 1 (A) | 1 | 2 | A♯ (3) |
4th fret · 6-6-6-4
F♯ major is played at the 4th fret as 6 6 6 4: middle finger on the G string at fret 6, ring finger on the C string at fret 6, pinky finger on the E string at fret 6 and index finger on the A string at fret 4.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 6 | 2 | C♯ (5) |
| 3 (C) | 6 | 3 | F♯ (1) |
| 2 (E) | 6 | 4 | A♯ (3) |
| 1 (A) | 4 | 1 | C♯ (5) |
Why it sounds like that
F♯ major is built from the root, major third and perfect fifth — 1, 3, 5. The major third A♯ gives the chord its bright quality. Lower that third by one semitone to A and you get F♯ minor.
What goes wrong with F♯ major?
- Letting the G string ring out and add a non-chord tone.
- Not pressing the C and E strings firmly enough, causing a buzz.
- Accidentally muting the A string with the index finger.
When to use it
F♯ major is the tonic in F♯ major, heard in progressions like F♯–B–C♯, the I–IV–V–I. It also fits the I–V–vi–IV in F♯ major: F♯–C♯–D♯ minor–B. Use it for rock, metal and songs in sharp keys. Compare F♯ 5th for a leaner two-note sound.
Changing to and from F♯ major
- Move to G major by shifting the whole shape up one fret, keeping the same finger pattern.
- Slide the 4th fret shape down two frets to the 2nd fret to reach E major.
Which voicing to use
The 4th fret shape is the default, but the 9th fret shape is easier for some players because it uses all four strings. The F♯/A♯ inversion puts the third in the bass for a smoother voice leading into B major.
Other F♯ chords
Common questions
How is F♯ major written?
F♯ major is written as F♯, F♯maj or F♯M. The ASCII root is F#. It is also spelled G♭ in enharmonic notation for the same sounding root.
What is the difference between F♯ major and F♯ minor?
F♯ major has a major third, A♯, while F♯ minor has a minor third, A. This changes the chord from bright to sombre.
Why is the G string muted in the 4th fret F♯ major shape?
The open G string is not a chord tone, so it is muted to keep the chord clean and avoid an outside note.