How to play the F#69 chord on guitar

The F#69 chord, pronounced "F sharp six nine," is a colorful and expressive chord that adds a dreamy, ethereal quality to music. It's composed of the notes F#, A#, C#, D#, and G#. This chord is notably used in jazz, R&B, and neo-soul genres to create lush harmonic textures. Artists like Erykah Badu and D'Angelo have featured the F#69 chord prominently in their songs.

The F#69 chord is typically played as a barre chord on the 2nd fret of the guitar.

Follow these finger positions to play a F#69 chord on your guitar:

1. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 1st (low E), 2nd (A), 3rd (D), 4th (G), 5th (B), and 6th (high E) strings. This is a barre chord.
2. Place your middle finger on the 3rd fret of the 3rd (D) string.
3. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (G) string.

Strum all six strings together to play the F#69 chord. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your index finger to cleanly barre all the strings on the 2nd fret.

If you're a beginner looking to play a simpler version of the F#69 chord, try playing an F# major chord instead. Place your index finger on the 2nd fret of the 6th (low E) string, middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd (G) string, and ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th (A) string.

Playing the F#69 barre chord can give a fuller, richer sound compared to the open version. It's also a great way to build finger strength and dexterity.

Here's how to play a F#69 barre chord:

1. Place your index finger across all six strings at the 2nd fret, creating a barre.
2. Place your middle finger on the 4th fret of the 3rd (G) string.
3. Place your ring finger on the 4th fret of the 5th (A) string.
4. Place your pinky finger on the 4th fret of the 4th (D) string.
5. Strum all six strings from low to high.

The F#69 chord adds a dreamy and sensual flavor to chord progressions, often evoking feelings of longing, nostalgia, or bittersweet emotions. Some common chord progressions featuring the F#69 chord include:

• I - vi - IV - V (F#69 - D#m7 - B69 - C#7) Used in "Nights in White Satin" and "Watermelon Sugar"
• ii - V - I - vi (G#m7 - C#7 - F#69 - D#m7)
• iii - vi - ii - V (A#m7 - D#m7 - G#m7 - C#7)
• IV - V - iii - vi (B69 - C#7 - A#m7 - D#m7) Used in "Fly Me to the Moon"
• vi - IV - I - V (D#m7 - B69 - F#69 - C#7)

To master the F#69 guitar chord, try playing each note individually, focusing on clarity and tone. Once comfortable, practice transitioning between the notes in different orders, such as F#-A#-C#-D#-G# or G#-D#-C#-A#-F#. This drill helps build finger dexterity and muscle memory.

Another effective drill is to play the chord as an arpeggio, plucking each note one at a time in ascending or descending order. This exercise allows you to concentrate on each note's sound and develops your ability to play the chord smoothly and evenly.

Here are 3 popular songs you can play with the F#6/9 chord.

1. Purple Rain by Prince (F#6/9, Bmaj7, D#m7, G#m7)
2. Coma by Guns N' Roses (F#6/9, F#, B, E)
3. Faraway by Apocalyptica (F#6/9, D#m, B, C#)