The key signature of F sharp major has six sharps. Its enharmonic equivalent is G flat
major which has six flats. Its relative minor is D sharp minor which is not often used and
is replaced by its enharmonic equivalent of E flat minor. Its tonic minor is F sharp minor.
The scale of F sharp major has the following notes: F sharp, G sharp, A sharp, B, C
sharp, D sharp, E sharp [F] and F sharp. The following pieces are in the key of F sharp
major: ‘Va pensiero’from Verdi’s ‘Nabucco’, ‘Dunque e Proprio Finito’ from Puccini’s
‘La Boheme’ and Mahler’s tenth symphony.
Some piano pieces in F sharp major:
Beethoven: Sonata ‘A Thérèse’ opus 78
Chopin: Impromptu no. 2 opus 36 and Barcarolle opus 60
G flat major (F sharp major)
The key signature of G flat major has six flats. Its enharmonic equivalent is F sharp
major which has six sharps. Its relative minor is E flat minor. Its tonic minor is G flat
minor which is usually replaced by F sharp minor (because G flat minor, which would
have five flats and two double flats, is not normally used). The scale of G flat major has
the following notes: G flat, A flat, B flat, C flat [B], D flat, E flat, F and G flat. Mahler
used the key of G flat major in the choral entry during the Finale of his second symphony,
during the first movement of his third symphony, during the Adagietto from his fifth
symphony and during the Rondo-Finale of his seventh symphony. Puccini used the key
of G flat major for his aria ‘Un bel di vendremo’ from ‘Madam Butterfly’. Some piano
pieces in G flat major are:
Schubert: Impromptu no. 3 D 899
Chopin: Etudes opus 10 no. 5 ‘Black keys’ and opus 25 no. 9 ‘Butterfly’, and Impromptu
no. 3 opus 51
Debussy: ‘La Fille aux cheveux de lin’ (‘The girl with the flaxen hair’)
Dvo%ák: Humoresque opus 101 no. 7
Rachmaninoff: Prelude opus 23 no. 10
F sharp minor
The key signature of F sharp minor has three sharps. Its relative major is A major. Its
tonic major is F sharp major. The natural minor scale of F sharp minor consists of the
notes F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D, E and F sharp. Very few symphonies have been
written in F sharp minor, an exception being Haydn’s ‘Farewell’ Symphony. Wieniawski
and Viextemps wrote violin concertos in this key.