F# Minor Scale
F sharp natural minor runs F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D, E and back to F sharp. Its key signature has three sharps. The scale shares its notes with A major, but a phrase ending on F sharp can make F sharp its center.
- Notes: F sharp-G sharp-A-B-C sharp-D-E
- Key signature: three sharps
- Relative major: A major
Where are the half steps?
The natural-minor half steps are G sharp-A and C sharp-D. Play the pairs before the whole scale, then add the notes on either side. F sharp-A-C sharp makes the tonic minor chord and gives you a stable ending to return to.
A major has the same three-sharp note set. Play A-C sharp-E-A over A and F sharp-A-C sharp-F sharp over F sharp. The sound of home shifts without adding any new key to the keyboard.
Which triads belong to F sharp natural minor?
Stack alternate scale notes to get F sharp minor, G sharp diminished, A, Bm, C sharp minor, D and E. Try F sharp minor-D-E-F sharp minor and listen to the E-major chord returning by a whole-step bass motion.
If a piece uses C sharp major instead, it needs E sharp: C sharp-E sharp-G sharp. E sharp is one piano key below F sharp, so the major fifth chord has a close melodic route home. Compare C sharp minor-F sharp minor with C sharp major-F sharp minor. The Harmonic Minor overview explains the altered seventh.
One useful memory link
Find A-C sharp-E as a chord, then add F sharp below it. You have reached the root of F sharp minor while retaining three notes from its relative-major collection. Finish by playing the scale from F sharp to F sharp so that the new center stays audible.