CH·01 / F♯ IONIAN
I
F♯ Ionian
Happy, bright, resolved — built from F♯ major
PARENT FAMILY · F♯ MAJ
All 7 modes share the same parent scale (F♯ major). F♯ Ionian is the I mode.
| # | Mode | Diatonic chords | Mood |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | F♯ Ionian | F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 | Happy, bright, resolved |
| II | G♯ Dorian | G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 | Soulful, minor but with hope |
| III | A♯ Phrygian | A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 | Dark, tense, Spanish/flamenco |
| IV | B Lydian | Bmaj7 – C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 | Dreamy, floating, ethereal |
| V | C♯ Mixolydian | C♯7 – D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 | Bluesy, dominant, rock |
| VI | D♯ Aeolian | D♯m7 – Fm7♭5 – F♯maj7 – G♯m7 – A♯m7 – Bmaj7 – C♯7 | Melancholic, natural minor |
| VII | F Locrian | Fm7♭5 – G♭maj7 – A♭m7 – B♭m7 – Bmaj7 – D♭7 – E♭m7 | Unstable, tense, dissonant |
SCALE · 7 NOTES · 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
F♯
G♯
A♯
B
C♯
D♯
F
Formula: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
The Ionian scale on F♯ contains the notes F♯, G♯, A♯, B, C♯, D♯, F. The pentatonic subset is F♯, G♯, A♯, C♯, D♯.
Characteristic note: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.
DIATONIC 7ths · CHORD PAD
I
F♯maj7
II
G♯m7
III
A♯m7
IV
Bmaj7
V
C♯7
VI
D♯m7
VII
Fm7♭5
▸ Play F♯ Ionian over F♯maj7 and C♯7 progressions.
FRETBOARD · STANDARD TUNING · 15F● LIVE
CHARACTER · HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED
HAPPY, BRIGHT, RESOLVED
F♯ Ionian is a major mode with a happy, bright, resolved character. It is the I mode of F♯ major — it uses the same 7 notes as F♯ Ionian but is rooted on F♯, which shifts the harmonic focus and creates a completely different sound. The tonic chord is F♯maj7.
Where to use F♯ Ionian
Major key melodies, pop, folk, classical.
Famous examples
- Happy Birthday
- Let It Be
- most pop songs
What makes it distinctive: the major 7th gives it a bright, resolved sound.
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