What notes are in an F♯maj7 chord?

F♯maj7 contains four notes: F♯ (root), A♯ (major third), C♯ (perfect fifth), and E♯ (major seventh — same pitch as F).

Is F♯maj7 the same as G♭maj7?

Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. F♯maj7 has six sharps; G♭maj7 has six flats. They're equally valid; composers pick one based on surrounding harmony.

Why is the 7th E♯ and not F?

Major scales use each of the seven letters exactly once. The F♯ major scale runs F♯-G♯-A♯-B-C♯-D♯-E♯ — using each letter in order. Calling the 7th "F" would skip the E letter and use F twice.

When would I see F♯maj7 in real music?

In music notated in F♯ major or C♯ major. In jazz, F♯maj7 appears when surrounding chords use sharp-side notation. In late-Romantic classical music it appears in chromatic passages through F♯ major.

F# major 7 chord — notes, intervals, and practice

F♯ major 7 (F♯maj7) — F♯, A♯, C♯, E♯ — is F♯ major with a major 7th on top. The six-sharp key signature makes the chord visually dense, but the sound is exactly the same as its enharmonic neighbour G♭maj7 (six flats). Wagner used F♯ major harmony in dense chromatic passages; jazz uses F♯maj7 in modulations that pivot from B major harmony.

Intervals

The F# major 7 chord stacks two thirds on the root. Each interval and its size in semitones:

F#→A#major 3rd4 semitones
A#→C#minor 3rd3 semitones
C#→E#major 3rd4 semitones

On the keyboard

Each note of the F# major 7 chord highlighted on a piano. Pitch class is what matters — any octave works.

On the guitar

One voicing of the F# major 7 chord on a six-string guitar fretboard.

Common mistakes

F♯maj7 has E♯ as its 7th (enharmonic to F natural). Inside F♯-major key contexts the E♯ spelling preserves the seven-letter rule; in jazz lead sheets the same chord may be written F♯maj7 with F as the 7th letter — strictly incorrect but common. The chord is sometimes notated as G♭maj7 in flat-key contexts.

In context

F♯maj7 is the I chord in F♯ major. The ii–V–I cadence runs G♯m7 → C♯7 → F♯maj7. The chord also serves as the IV of C♯ major and bVI of A♯ minor. Modulations from B major to F♯ major are common in late-Romantic and modern jazz; the V (C♯7) leads naturally to F♯maj7.

Drill it

The F# major 7 chord is one of 48 in the Chord Trainer. Open the full trainer to practice it alongside related chords with timing and best-time tracking.

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Frequently asked

What notes are in an F♯maj7 chord?: F♯maj7 contains four notes: F♯ (root), A♯ (major third), C♯ (perfect fifth), and E♯ (major seventh — same pitch as F).
Is F♯maj7 the same as G♭maj7?: Yes, enharmonically — same four pitches. F♯maj7 has six sharps; G♭maj7 has six flats. They're equally valid; composers pick one based on surrounding harmony.
Why is the 7th E♯ and not F?: Major scales use each of the seven letters exactly once. The F♯ major scale runs F♯-G♯-A♯-B-C♯-D♯-E♯ — using each letter in order. Calling the 7th "F" would skip the E letter and use F twice.
When would I see F♯maj7 in real music?: In music notated in F♯ major or C♯ major. In jazz, F♯maj7 appears when surrounding chords use sharp-side notation. In late-Romantic classical music it appears in chromatic passages through F♯ major.