How to Play Guitar in the Key of F-Sharp/G-Flat

F-sharp (known by this title much more often than G-flat) is not a very common key in guitar-based music. This key can be handy, though, when transposing a song to a better key for singers.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Guitar Amplifiers
• Guitar Cables
• Guitar Cases
• Guitar Picks
• Guitar Slide
• Guitar Stands
• Guitar Straps
• Guitars
• Metronome
• Set Of Guitar Strings
• Sheet Music For Guitar

The F-Sharp Chord

1. Review and memorize the names of the strings. Lowest to highest, they are E-A-D-G-B-E.
2. Lay your index finger across all the strings on the second fret firmly.
3. Place your middle finger on the third fret of the G string.
4. Place your pinky on the fourth fret of the D string.
5. Place your ring finger on the fourth fret of the A string.
6. Strum the chord downward, lowest strings toward the highest.

The B, C-Sharp and D-Sharp Minor Chords

7. Lay your index finger across the second fret, pressing down firmly on all of the strings to begin the B chord.
8. Place your middle finger on the fourth fret of the D string.
9. Place your ring finger on the fourth fret of the G string.
10. Place your pinky on the fourth fret of the B string.
11. Strum the strings downward to play the B chord. 
12. Lay your index finger across the fourth fret, pressing down firmly on all of the strings to begin the C-sharp chord.
13. Place your middle finger on the sixth fret of the D string.
14. Place your ring finger on the sixth fret of the G string.
15. Place your pinky on the sixth fret of the B string.
16. Strum the strings downward to play the C-sharp chord.
17. Lay your index finger across all the strings on the fourth fret firmly to begin the D-sharp minor chord.
18. Place your middle finger on the fifth fret of the B string.
19. Place your ring finger on the sixth fret of the D string.
20. Place your pinky on the sixth fret of the G string.
21. Strum the strings downward to play the D-sharp minor chord.

The Key of F-Sharp

22. Freely strum the sequence F-sharp, B, C-sharp. Disregard tempo and meter for now.
23. Strum each chord four times repeating the sequence of F-sharp, B, C-sharp.
24. Strum F-sharp four times, B two times, and C-sharp two times and repeat.
25. Repeat Step 24 while keeping a steady tempo. Use a metronome if accessible.
26. Strum F-sharp four times, B two times, and C-sharp four times.
27. Strum each chord two times.
28. Strum F-sharp two times, B two times, D-sharp minor four times, and C-sharp four times.
29. Experiment with your own variations and progressions.

Tips & Warnings

• It is very important to keep your index finger firmly against the fret board for all the chords in this key. All notes should sound out equally; you shouldn't get a buzzing sound.
• Instead of stretching three fingers out over the fourth fret, you can bend your ring finger across the fourth fret of the D, G, and B strings when playing the B chord.
• Instead of stretching three fingers out over the sixth fret, you can bend your ring finger across the sixth fret of the D, G, and B strings when playing the C-sharp chord.