Scale degrees · F major

The ♯5 of F is C♯

The ♯5 (sharp five, written #5) of F is C♯ (C sharp): an augmented fifth above the root.

F — the root, 1C♯ — the ♯5

How to find it

Count letters first, the root included: F, G, A, B, C. A 5th lands on C.

Then the sound: an augmented fifth is 8 semitones above F, and the C that is 8 semitones up is C♯.

That is why it is C♯ and not D♭: D♭ is the same key on the piano, but from F it would be a 6th, not a 5th.

Where you meet it

The ♯5 is the 5th of the augmented chord. Over a dominant the same key on the piano is usually written ♭13.

In F+:

F · A · C♯

The ♯5 in every key

KeyThe ♯5
CG♯
GD♯
DA♯
AE♯
EB♯
BF𝄪
F♯C𝄪
D♭A
A♭E
E♭B
B♭F♯
FC♯

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