# F-sharp minor
**F-sharp minor** is a minor key in Western tonal music whose tonic is the note F♯ and whose key signature contains three sharps: F♯, C♯, and G♯.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) It is the relative minor of A major, meaning the two keys share the same key signature and the same set of notes, with F♯ rather than A serving as the tonal center.[2](https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/278090995/EdwardsEtal2021FundamentalsOfMusicTheory.pdf)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Key signature | Three sharps: F♯, C♯, G♯[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) |
| Relative major | A major, sharing the same signature and notes[2](https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/278090995/EdwardsEtal2021FundamentalsOfMusicTheory.pdf) |
| Natural minor scale | F♯ – G♯ – A – B – C♯ – D – E[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) |
| Harmonic minor | 7th degree raised to E♯, making the dominant a major chord (C♯)[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) |
| Diatonic chords | F♯m (i), G♯dim (ii°), A (III), Bm (iv), C♯m (v), D (VI), E (VII)[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) |
| Circle-of-fifths neighbors | B minor (2 sharps) and C♯ minor (4 sharps)[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor) |
| Noted works | Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony No. 45; Bach's Prelude and Fugue in F♯ minor, BWV 859 (WTC Book 1, No. 14)[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) • [4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor) |
## Key signature and relative major
The signature of F♯ minor is the first three entries of the fixed sharp order F♯–C♯–G♯–D♯–A♯–E♯–B♯, which adds one sharp with each clockwise step around the circle of fifths (diagram of the 12 keys arranged by fifth relationships, showing key signatures).[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor) To read a minor signature, one works through the relative major: the last sharp is G♯, one semitone above it lies A, so the signature belongs to A major; three semitones down from A is F♯, the relative minor.[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor)
Because the two keys share all their notes, the difference lies in which note functions as the tonic. Beginning and ending on A produces what is described as major tonality; beginning and ending on F♯ produces minor tonality, because the sequence of tones and semitones above the starting note changes.[2](https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/278090995/EdwardsEtal2021FundamentalsOfMusicTheory.pdf) A piece with this signature can therefore be in either key; the final chord and the notes the melody leans on decide which.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor)
## The three forms of the scale
The natural minor scale of F♯ is F♯, G♯, A, B, C♯, D, E, spelled exactly as the key signature writes it.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) In practice, composers usually alter the 6th and 7th degrees, and these raised notes are written as accidentals in the music rather than added to the key signature.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor)
- **Harmonic minor**: the 7th degree is raised a semitone from E to E♯, restoring the semitone pull up to the tonic F♯.[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor) This turns the dominant into the major chord C♯ (C♯–E♯–G♯) and the chord on the raised 7th degree into E♯ diminished (E♯–G♯–B); the corresponding seventh chords are C♯7 and E♯dim7.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor) The major V is used much more often than the minor v of the pure scale, because the raised 7th gives a leading tone a half step below the tonic.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor)
- **Melodic minor, ascending**: both the 6th and 7th degrees are raised, giving F♯–G♯–A–B–C♯–D♯–E♯; descending, the scale reverts to the natural minor notes.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor)
## Chords of the key
The diatonic triads built on the natural minor scale are F♯m (i), G♯dim (ii°), A (III), Bm (iv), C♯m (v), D (VI), and E (VII), with F♯m as tonic, Bm as subdominant, and C♯m as dominant.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) With the harmonic minor's raised 7th, the dominant becomes the major chord C♯, which supplies the strong resolution of a perfect cadence.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/)
## Position on the circle of fifths
On the circle of fifths, F♯ minor sits between [B minor](https://www.edgepedia.org/b-minor), one step anticlockwise with 2 sharps, and C♯ minor, one step clockwise with 4 sharps.[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor) Neighbouring keys share every note but one, so their signatures differ by a single accidental, which is why modulation to the dominant or subdominant side sounds smooth.[3](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor) The parallel major, F♯ major, has six sharps; compared with it, the minor key flattens the 3rd, 6th, and 7th degrees.[5](https://piano.org/modes/aeolian/f-sharp/)
## Music in F-sharp minor
Haydn's Symphony No. 45, the "Farewell" Symphony, is in F♯ minor.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/) In Book 1 of *The Well-Tempered Clavier*, Bach wrote one prelude and fugue in each of the 24 keys; the F♯ minor pair is No. 14, BWV 859, with a prelude in 4/4 and a four-voice fugue.[4](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor) Solo piano works and chamber pieces frequently call on this key, taking advantage of the way it blends flat and sharp shades of color.[6](https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/33117) On the guitar, the F♯m chord is a barre shape.[1](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/)
## References
1. [F# minor: Key Signature, Scale and Chords, theorie-musik.de](https://www.theorie-musik.de/en/musical-scales/circle-of-fifth/f-sharp-minor/)
2. [Fundamentals of Music Theory, University of Edinburgh (Edwards, Kitchen, Moran, Moir, Worth, 2021)](https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/278090995/EdwardsEtal2021FundamentalsOfMusicTheory.pdf)
3. [F♯ Minor Key Signature — Sharps, Flats & Scale, Theory Practice](https://theorypractice.app/learn/key-signature/f-sharp-minor)
4. [F-sharp Minor Scale, Key Signature and Chords, musictheoryprint.com](https://musictheoryprint.com/keys/f-sharp-minor)
5. [F♯/G♭ Aeolian Mode: Piano Notes & Scale Pattern, piano.org](https://piano.org/modes/aeolian/f-sharp/)
6. [F-sharp minor: key, scale, character, and musical use, Alegsa Online](https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/33117)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musical practice and theory › Instruments, theory, and world traditions › Pitch, tuning, scales, and musical acoustics*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license