F Major Scale
The F major scale has seven notes: F, G, A, B♭, C, D and E. It has 1 flat (B♭), and it is the relative major of D minor.
Notes
- F1
- G2
- A3
- B♭4
- C5
- D6
- E7
Step pattern: W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step)
| Degree | Note | Interval from F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Root |
| 2 | G | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A | Major 3rd |
| 4 | B♭ | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | D | Major 6th |
| 7 | E | Major 7th |
On the piano
On the guitar
Root Scale tone
Key signature
F major has 1 flat: B♭. See it on the circle of fifths →
Chords in the key of F major
| Numeral | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| I | F | Fmaj7 |
| ii | Gm | Gm7 |
| iii | Am | Am7 |
| IV | B♭ | B♭maj7 |
| V | C | C7 |
| vi | Dm | Dm7 |
| vii° | Edim | Em7♭5 |
Common progressions
- Three-chordF – B♭ – CI – IV – V
- Pop ("four chords")F – C – Dm – B♭I – V – vi – IV
- Jazz ii–V–IGm – C – Fii – V – I
- 50s doo-wopF – Dm – B♭ – CI – vi – IV – V
Related scales
Practise it
- G major, three notes per stringTechnique · moved down 2 frets into F
- Legato trills (hammer-ons & pull-offs)Technique · moved up 5 frets into F
- ii–V–I lineJazz · moved up 5 frets into F
Explore it on the full fretboard · Piano scale explorer · Metronome