F# major chords, relative minor and Camelot code (2B)
F♯ major has 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). Its chords are F♯, G♯m, A♯m, B, C♯, D♯m and E♯°. The relative minor is E♭ minor (D♯ minor) and the Camelot code is 2B, so it mixes cleanly with 1B, 3B and 2A.
Notes in the F♯ major scale
F♯ major has 6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯). It sounds identical to G♭ major, which is the same set of pitches spelled differently; F♯ major is the usual spelling.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F♯ | G♯ | A♯ | B | C♯ | D♯ | E♯ |
Chords in F♯ major
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | F♯ | F♯ · A♯ · C♯ |
| ii | G♯m | G♯ · B · D♯ |
| iii | A♯m | A♯ · C♯ · E♯ |
| IV | B | B · D♯ · F♯ |
| V | C♯ | C♯ · E♯ · G♯ |
| vi | D♯m | D♯ · F♯ · A♯ |
| vii° | E♯° | E♯ · G♯ · B |
Common progressions in F♯ major
- F♯ – C♯ – D♯m – B (I–V–vi–IV): the most used pop progression of the last forty years.
- F♯ – D♯m – B – C♯ (I–vi–IV–V): the 1950s doo-wop turnaround.
- G♯m – C♯ – F♯ (ii–V–I): the jazz cadence.
- D♯m – B – F♯ – C♯ (vi–IV–I–V): the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor chord for a darker feel.
Keys that mix with F♯ major
F♯ major is 2B on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 1B | B major | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 3B | D♭ major | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 2A | E♭ minor | The relative minor: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative minor, E♭ minor, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel minor, F♯ minor, keeps F♯ as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in F♯ major?
F♯ (I), G♯m (ii), A♯m (iii), B (IV), C♯ (V), D♯m (vi) and E♯° (vii°).
What is the relative minor of F♯ major?
E♭ minor (D♯ minor). It uses the same 7 notes, F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯, but centres on E♭ instead of F♯.
What is the Camelot code for F♯ major?
2B. In Open Key notation it is 7d.
What keys mix well with F♯ major?
B major (1B), D♭ major (3B) and E♭ minor (2A). They sit next to 2B on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does F♯ major have?
6 sharps (F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯, E♯).