F♯ Major Triads on Guitar: Every Inversion on Every String Set

A F♯ major triad is F♯, A♯ and C♯ (1 3 5). It has three arrangements, root position, first inversion and second inversion, and each can be played on four groups of three strings: all twelve shapes are below.

Keys

CAGED Chords — F♯

6C shape
9A shape
11G shape
2E shape
4D shape

Triads — F♯

Root position

6C shape
9A shape
11G shape
2E shape

The notes of F♯

F♯ major is a major third (four frets) with a minor third (three frets) on top. Root position puts F♯ at the bottom (F♯, A♯ and C♯); first inversion puts A♯ at the bottom (A♯, C♯ and F♯); second inversion puts C♯ at the bottom (C♯, F♯ and A♯).

It's the same pitch as G♭; this page uses F♯ because it's spelled with fewer sharps or flats.

F♯ on every string set

On the low E, A and D strings: root position at frets 11–14, first inversion at frets 4–6 and second inversion at frets 8–9.

F♯ triad, root position, on the low E, A and D strings: F sharp (root) on the low E string, fret 14; A sharp on the A string, fret 13; C sharp on the D string, fret 11.
Root position
F♯ triad, first inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: A sharp on the low E string, fret 6; C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4.
First inversion
F♯ triad, second inversion, on the low E, A and D strings: C sharp on the low E string, fret 9; F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; A sharp on the D string, fret 8.
Second inversion

On the A, D and G strings: root position at frets 6–9, first inversion at frets 11–13 and second inversion at frets 3–4.

F♯ triad, root position, on the A, D and G strings: F sharp (root) on the A string, fret 9; A sharp on the D string, fret 8; C sharp on the G string, fret 6.
Root position
F♯ triad, first inversion, on the A, D and G strings: A sharp on the A string, fret 13; C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11.
First inversion
F♯ triad, second inversion, on the A, D and G strings: C sharp on the A string, fret 4; F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; A sharp on the G string, fret 3.
Second inversion

On the D, G and B strings: root position at frets 2–4, first inversion at frets 6–8 and second inversion at fret 11.

F♯ triad, root position, on the D, G and B strings: F sharp (root) on the D string, fret 4; A sharp on the G string, fret 3; C sharp on the B string, fret 2.
Root position
F♯ triad, first inversion, on the D, G and B strings: A sharp on the D string, fret 8; C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7.
First inversion
F♯ triad, second inversion, on the D, G and B strings: C sharp on the D string, fret 11; F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; A sharp on the B string, fret 11.
Second inversion

On the G, B and high e strings: root position at frets 9–11, first inversion at frets 2–3 and second inversion at frets 6–7.

F♯ triad, root position, on the G, B and high e strings: F sharp (root) on the G string, fret 11; A sharp on the B string, fret 11; C sharp on the high e string, fret 9.
Root position
F♯ triad, first inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: A sharp on the G string, fret 3; C sharp on the B string, fret 2; F sharp (root) on the high e string, fret 2.
First inversion
F♯ triad, second inversion, on the G, B and high e strings: C sharp on the G string, fret 6; F sharp (root) on the B string, fret 7; A sharp on the high e string, fret 6.
Second inversion

Where the inversions sit in the CAGED shapes

The practice pad above shows F♯'s triads inside each CAGED shape. Use the R, 2, 3 and V switches to see each arrangement:

  • Root position: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 9), G shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • First inversion: C shape (fret 6), G shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 2).
  • Second inversion: C shape (fret 6), A shape (fret 11) and E shape (fret 3).

Where F♯ appears

F♯ belongs to 8 keys: IV in D♭ major, I in F♯ major and V in B major; III in E♭ minor, VII in G♯ minor and VI in B♭ minor; VI in B♭ harmonic minor and V in B harmonic minor.

None of them is one of the open-string guitar keys (C, G, D, A, E and their relative minors), so F♯ is more often met in piano-led songs, horn arrangements and with a capo.

Open strings and capo options for F♯

No open string is a note of F♯, so every voicing on this page is fully fretted and there's nothing to let ring.

To get an open-sounding voicing, use a capo: the E shape with the capo at fret 2, the D shape with the capo at fret 4 and the C shape with the capo at fret 6.

The closest chords to F♯ share two of its three notes: its relative minor and the chords a fourth and a fifth away, which are its neighbours in F♯ major.

F♯ triad FAQs

What notes are in a F♯ major triad?

F♯, A♯ and C♯. The formula is 1 3 5.

What is the first inversion of F♯?

A♯, C♯ and F♯, with A♯ in the bass. On the G, B and high e strings it sits at fret 3, fret 2 and fret 2.

How many F♯ triad shapes are there?

Twelve to learn: root position and two inversions on each of the four three-string sets. They repeat twelve frets higher.

Learn more

How to use guitar triads explains inversions and how to use them in rhythm parts and solos, and triads on all string sets goes through each set in turn. The triad library has every chord.