Piano chord
F♯maj7F sharp major seventh
- F♯1
- A♯3
- C♯5
- E♯7
- Notes
- 4
- Positions
- 4
- Span
- 11semitones
- Fingers
- 1-2-3-5
How to play F♯maj7 on piano
- Find F♯: it is the root and the lowest note of the chord in root position.
- Right hand: 1 on F♯, 2 on A♯, 3 on C♯, 5 on E♯.
- Or with the left hand: 5 on F♯, 3 on A♯, 2 on C♯, 1 on E♯.
- Press the keys together, with curved fingers and a loose wrist, and let them ring.
Root position · F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯
1st inversion · A♯ – C♯ – E♯ – F♯
2nd inversion · C♯ – E♯ – F♯ – A♯
3rd inversion · E♯ – F♯ – A♯ – C♯
Numbers on the keys are fingers: 1 thumb, 2 index, 3 middle, 4 ring, 5 little finger.
F♯maj7 inversions
Here are all 4 positions of F♯maj7. The notes stay the same, only their order changes: root position has F♯ at the bottom, and every inversion starts on the next chord tone.
- Root positionbass: F♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 1st inversionbass: A♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
- 2nd inversionbass: C♯Right hand 1-2-3-5 · Left hand 5-3-2-1
- 3rd inversionbass: E♯Right hand 1-2-4-5 · Left hand 5-4-2-1
Chords that go with F♯maj7
The other chords of F sharp major, the key where F♯maj7 is home (Imaj7). Songs in this key move between them.
F♯maj7 with two hands
A full sound: the left hand plays F♯ an octave lower, the right hand plays F♯–A♯–C♯–E♯.
F♯maj7 on other instruments
About the F♯maj7 chord
The 4 notes of F sharp major seventh are F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E♯ (7). A major seventh: a major triad with the natural seventh, one semitone below the octave. It sounds smooth and dreamy, common in jazz, soul and bossa nova.
The keys are F♯ – A♯ – C♯ – E♯, counted up from F♯; the distance from the lowest to the highest key is 11 semitones. Any hand that reaches an octave can hold F♯maj7, so it works in either hand.
In the inversions of F♯maj7 the root moves up and another note takes the bass. In the 1st inversion the bass is A♯ (A♯–C♯–E♯–F♯). In the 2nd inversion the bass is C♯ (C♯–E♯–F♯–A♯). In the 3rd inversion the bass is E♯ (E♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
Add E♯ to F♯ and you have F♯maj7.
You meet F♯maj7 in these keys: D flat major (IVmaj7), F sharp major (Imaj7), B flat minor (VImaj7), E flat minor (IIImaj7).
Questions
What notes are in the F♯maj7 chord?
F♯maj7 (F sharp major seventh) has 4 notes: F♯ (1), A♯ (3), C♯ (5), E♯ (7).
How many inversions does F♯maj7 have?
F♯maj7 can be played in 4 positions: Root position (F♯–A♯–C♯–E♯); 1st inversion (A♯–C♯–E♯–F♯); 2nd inversion (C♯–E♯–F♯–A♯); 3rd inversion (E♯–F♯–A♯–C♯).
What is the difference between F♯maj7 and F♯?
Add E♯ to F♯ and you have F♯maj7.
Can I play F♯maj7 with one hand?
Yes. In root position F♯maj7 spans 11 semitones, less than an octave, so one hand holds it easily.