In F♯ major, A is A (sharp)The key signature of F♯ major puts a sharp on every A.

Is A sharp in F♯ major?

In F♯ major, A is A♯: the key signature puts a sharp on every A, in every octave, for as long as that signature stands.

The signature of F♯ major is six sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯. A♯ is one of them, which is why you never see a sharp written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.

Spelled from the tonic, the F♯ major scale runs F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯ — one of each letter, each carrying whatever the signature gives it. The staff above draws the F♯ major signature and the note A♯ inside it — exactly as you would meet it in a piece written in this key.

Every letter in F♯ major

F♯ major has six sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯. That fixes what each of the seven letters is called in this key:

  • C is C♯
  • D is D♯
  • E is E♯
  • F is F♯
  • G is G♯
  • A is A♯ — the letter on this page
  • B is B (natural — the signature leaves it alone)

F♯ major shares its signature with its relative D♯ minor — the same sharps or flats, so A is A♯ there too.

F♯ major and G♭ major are the same key on the keyboard, written two different ways — so they answer this question differently: A is A♯ in F♯ major, and A♭ in G♭ major.

Frequently asked questions

Is A sharp in F♯ major?
Yes. F♯ major has six sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯, and A♯ is one of them, so every A in the key is played as A♯.
What accidental does A carry in F♯ major?
A is A♯ (sharp). The signature of F♯ major is six sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯. A♯ is one of them, which is why you never see a sharp written next to the note — the signature at the start of the staff already said it.
What sharps or flats are in F♯ major?
F♯ major has six sharps, F♯, C♯, G♯, D♯, A♯ and E♯ — written in that order at the start of the staff.
How is the F♯ major scale spelled?
From the tonic up: F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, E♯. Each letter appears once, carrying whatever the key signature gives it.