F sharp major, for one
Published by Naitik Mehta · March 30, 2026
Stuck on the clue F sharp major, for one from the New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026? We have the correct 3-letter answer, including the definition, alternative hints, as well as other answers from the same crossword. Ready to learn more about this clue?
Clue
F sharp major, for one (3)
Answer
The answer to F sharp major, for one is Key (3 letters).
Why does Key fit this clue?
This clue uses a specific musical example to point to the broader category it belongs to, and the answer is KEY. In music, a key is a system of notes built around a central pitch, defining the scale and harmony of a piece. F sharp major is one of the twenty-four major and minor keys used in Western music, built on the note F sharp and containing six sharps in its key signature. The phrase 'for one' signals that F sharp major is just a single example of the larger concept, making KEY the category that contains it.
What does F sharp major, for one mean?
We break down each word in the clue and show its dictionary definitions below.
sharp
noun
•a musical note raised by a half step
adjective
•raised in pitch by a semitone
major
noun
•a musical scale or key with a cheerful, bright sound
adjective
•relating to a scale based on intervals of a tone and semitone
Where did this clue appear?
This clue appeared as 47-down in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026, by Gary Cee, edited by Will Shortz. See all answers for this puzzle.
Read the NYT Wordplay column for this puzzle.
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
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What does Key mean?
noun
•An object designed to open and close a lock.
•An object designed to fit between two other objects (such as a shaft and a wheel) in a mechanism and maintain their relative orientation.
•One of a string of small islands.
•A stone or concrete structure on navigable water used for loading and unloading vessels; a wharf.
•In the International System of Units, the base unit of mass; conceived of as the mass of one litre of water, but now defined by taking the fixed numerical value of the Planck constant h to be 6.626 070 15 × 10-34 when expressed in units of kg⋅m2⋅s−1. Symbol: kg
•The unit of weight such that a one-kilogram mass is also a one-kilogram weight.
verb
•To fit (a lock) with a key.
•To fit (pieces of a mechanical assembly) with a key to maintain the orientation between them.
adjective
•Indispensable, supremely important.
•Important, salient.
Origin of the word Key
•origin: Old English 'cǣg'
•period: before 12th century
The word is related to Old Frisian 'kāi' and may ultimately derive from a Proto-Germanic root meaning 'to seize' or 'to grasp', reflecting the key's function of grasping or engaging with a lock mechanism.
How to use Key in a sentence
Here are 3 examples of how to use the word Key.
•“The symphony was composed in the key of F sharp major, which gives it a bright and uplifting sound.”
•“The pianist practiced scales in every major and minor key to improve her technique.”
•“After tuning his guitar, he played a beautiful melody in the key of C major.”
What are other crossword clues for Key?
and 2 more clues with the same answer
Learn about related clues
All clues from the New York Times Daily, Mar 30, 2026 crossword
The New York Times Daily for March 30, 2026 was published by Gary Cee and has 78 clues. Curious about all the answers from this crossword puzzle? View all answers here.
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Frequently asked questions about F sharp major, for one
- What is the answer to F sharp major, for one?
- The answer is Key (3 letters).
- Where did this clue appear?
- This clue was last seen in the New York Times Daily on March 30, 2026.
- How many letters does the answer to F sharp major, for one have?
- The answer has 3 letters: Key.
Author
Naitik Mehta
Co-founder
Naitik is a gaming enthusiast who loves solving daily word games and enjoys the friendly competition from time to time. He is the co-founder of Crossword Chef and enjoys thinking about how to make crossword solving more fun for everyone around the world.
Puzzle
NYT Daily — Mar 30, 2026
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