F-sharp major seventh chord (F#maj7)
The F♯ major seventh chord (F♯maj7) is a major seventh chord: a major triad with a major seventh on top, F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯ (root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh).
It is the Imaj7 in F♯ major and the IIImaj7 in D♯ minor; its relative is D♯ minor seventh, and C♯ dominant seventh leads into it as its V7.
Below: voicings, notes on the fretboard, ukulele, piano, inversions and progressions.
How to play F♯ major seventh on guitar
There are 2 guitar voicings.
Frets from the 6th string to the 1st: x = not played, 0 = open string.
- Voicing 1: 2-4-3-3-2-2, barre at fret 2, with F♯ in the bass (fingers 1-4-2-3-1-1).
- Voicing 2: x-9-11-10-11-9, movable A-shape barre chord at fret 9, with F♯ in the bass.
Notes of the F♯ major seventh chord on the fretboard
F♯ major seventh has 4 notes: F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯. This is where they fall on each string, from the nut to the 12th fret (fret number in parentheses):
- String 6 (E): E♯ (1) · F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9)
- String 5 (A): A♯ (1) · C♯ (4) · E♯ (8) · F♯ (9)
- String 4 (D): E♯ (3) · F♯ (4) · A♯ (8) · C♯ (11)
- String 3 (G): A♯ (3) · C♯ (6) · E♯ (10) · F♯ (11)
- String 2 (B): C♯ (2) · E♯ (6) · F♯ (7) · A♯ (11)
- String 1 (E): E♯ (1) · F♯ (2) · A♯ (6) · C♯ (9)
Formula and intervals of F♯ major seventh
Its formula is 1-3-5-7; in semitones from the root, 0-4-7-11.
- F♯: Root, the note that gives the chord its name
- A♯: Major third (M3), 4 semitones above F♯
- C♯: Perfect fifth (P5), 7 semitones above F♯
- E♯: Major seventh (M7), 11 semitones above F♯
F♯ major seventh on ukulele
- Ukulele (G C E A): 3-5-2-4; it sounds A♯, E♯, F♯ and C♯.
F♯ major seventh on piano
- Keys: F♯4, A♯4, C♯5 and E♯5.
Inversions of F♯ major seventh
Each inversion puts a different note in the bass.
- Root position: F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯, with F♯ in the bass.
- First inversion (F♯maj7/A♯): A♯, C♯, E♯ and F♯, with A♯ in the bass.
- Second inversion (F♯maj7/C♯): C♯, E♯, F♯ and A♯, with C♯ in the bass.
- Third inversion (F♯maj7/E♯): E♯, F♯, A♯ and C♯, with E♯ in the bass.
Keys that use F♯ major seventh
F♯ major seventh appears in 4 major and minor keys.
| Key | Degree | Function |
|---|---|---|
| F♯ major (6 sharps) | Imaj7 | Tonic |
| D♭ major (5 flats) | IVmaj7 (written G♭maj7) | Subdominant |
| D♯ minor (6 sharps) | IIImaj7 | Mediant |
| B♭ minor (5 flats) | VImaj7 (written G♭maj7) | Submediant |
Progressions with F♯ major seventh
- Jazz ii–V–I in F♯ major (ii7–V7–Imaj7): G♯m7 – C♯7 – F♯maj7
F♯ major seventh or G♭ major seventh?
F♯ major seventh (F♯maj7) and G♭ major seventh (G♭maj7) are the same chord with two names: they sound the same and use the same frets.
The spelling depends on the key: it is written G♭ major seventh in flat keys and F♯ major seventh in sharp keys.
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F♯ major seventh chord?
F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯: root, major third, perfect fifth and major seventh. Its formula is 1-3-5-7.
Which keys use F♯ major seventh?
Mainly as the Imaj7 in F♯ major and the IIImaj7 in D♯ minor. In total it appears in 4 major and minor keys.
Is G♭ major seventh the same chord as F♯ major seventh?
Yes: G♭ major seventh and F♯ major seventh sound the same and are played the same way. It is written G♭ major seventh in flat keys and F♯ major seventh in sharp keys.
What is the difference between F♯ major seventh and a dominant seventh chord?
The seventh: in F♯ major seventh (F♯, A♯, C♯ and E♯) it is major, a half step below the octave, while in a dominant seventh it is minor. That is why F♯ major seventh sounds stable, like a chord of rest, and a dominant seventh wants to resolve.