Chords in the Key of F♯ Minor (3 sharps)
F♯ minor is the relative minor of A, all over pop and country when the verse needs shade. F♯m, D, A, E covers a remarkable number of songs.
The seven chords
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|---|---|
| i | F♯m | minor |
| ii° | G♯ dim | diminished |
| III | A | major |
| iv | Bm | minor |
| v | C♯m | minor |
| VI | D | major |
| VII | E | major |
F♯m, Bm, and C♯m are the minors, A, D, and E the majors, G♯ diminished mostly skipped. The v often turns major, C♯7, when the song wants a harder pull home. That raised note is harmonic minor at work.
Common progressions
F♯m, D, E. Rock's minor lane, Zeppelin through grunge.
F♯m, Bm, C♯7. The minor cadence with the major V pulling it home.
Scales to solo with
F♯ minor pentatonic is the default lead scale, and the F♯ blues scale adds the ♭5. A major pentatonic is the same five notes from the relative major side.
Keep exploring
Relative major
Parallel major
Neighbor keys, one accidental away
Key of F♯ Minor FAQ
What chords are in the key of F♯ minor?
F♯m, G♯ diminished, A, Bm, C♯m, D, and E. In practice the v is often played major or as C♯7 for a stronger pull back to F♯m.
What is the relative major of F♯ minor?
A major. Same key signature, same seven chords, with A treated as home.
Why does F♯ minor use C♯7 if it isn't in the key?
The natural minor's v chord is C♯m, and it pulls home gently. Raising its third turns it into C♯7, which pulls to F♯m much harder. That raised note comes from the harmonic minor scale, and cadences borrowed it so often it became the default.