F# chord (F sharp major) on bass
F# (F sharp major) has three notes: F sharp, A sharp and C sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, F# is the I chord in F# major, the IV in Db major and the V in B major.
How to play F# on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | F# |
|---|---|
| Also written | F#maj, F#M |
| Notes | F# A# C# |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
F# across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 2 F# (1), fret 6 A# (3), fret 9 C# (5), fret 14 F# (1), fret 18 A# (3), fret 21 C# (5).
- A string: fret 1 A# (3), fret 4 C# (5), fret 9 F# (1), fret 13 A# (3), fret 16 C# (5), fret 21 F# (1).
- D string: fret 4 F# (1), fret 8 A# (3), fret 11 C# (5), fret 16 F# (1), fret 20 A# (3), fret 23 C# (5).
- G string: fret 3 A# (3), fret 6 C# (5), fret 11 F# (1), fret 15 A# (3), fret 18 C# (5), fret 23 F# (1).
Swipe the chart sideways to see all of it.
Questions
What notes are in the F# chord?
F# (F sharp major) has three notes: F sharp, A sharp and C sharp. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. F# is the root, A# is the major third and C# is the perfect fifth.
How do you play F# on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 14. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is F# in?
In major keys, F# is the I chord in F# major, the IV in Db major and the V in B major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between F# and F#m?
F# has a major 3rd, A#. F#m lowers it a half step to A, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.