F major scale
The F major scale is F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F. It has 1 flat (B♭), its relative minor is D minor, and the standard piano fingering is 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 in the right hand and 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 in the left hand.
F major scale notes
The F major scale has seven notes before the tonic repeats: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F. One of the seven is a black key on the piano (B♭); the other six are white keys.
The step pattern is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step). The half steps fall between A and B♭ and E and F.
| Degree | Name | Note | Solfège (movable do) | Piano key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tonic | F | do | White |
| 2 | Supertonic | G | re | White |
| 3 | Mediant | A | mi | White |
| 4 | Subdominant | B♭ | fa | Black |
| 5 | Dominant | C | sol | White |
| 6 | Submediant | D | la | White |
| 7 | Leading tone | E | ti | White |
F major key signature
The F major key signature has 1 flat: B♭, written at the start of every line. Flats are always added in the order B, E, A, D, G, C, F. D minor shares this signature.
On the treble staff, the flat, B♭, sits on the third line from the bottom.
F major scale fingering
| Hand | Notes (ascending) | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| Right hand | F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F | 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 |
| Left hand | F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F | 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 |
Right hand going up: B♭ (finger 4) to C (finger 1), the thumb passes under. Left hand going up: C (finger 1) to D (finger 3), the finger passes over the thumb. Fingers are numbered 1 (thumb) to 5 (little finger) in both hands.
The thumb stays on white keys in both hands; the black keys go to the longer fingers. For two octaves and the descending pattern, open the free piano scale fingering tool linked below.
Chords in F major
Building a triad on each note of the scale gives the seven chords of F major. The primary chords are F (I), B♭ (IV) and C (V).
| Degree | Triad | Notes | Seventh chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | F | F A C | Fmaj7 | F A C E |
| ii | Gm | G B♭ D | Gm7 | G B♭ D F |
| iii | Am | A C E | Am7 | A C E G |
| IV | B♭ | B♭ D F | B♭maj7 | B♭ D F A |
| V | C | C E G | C7 | C E G B♭ |
| vi | Dm | D F A | Dm7 | D F A C |
| vii° | E° | E G B♭ | Em7♭5 | E G B♭ D |
One of the most common progressions in pop music, I V vi IV, is F, C, Dm, B♭ in F major. A ii V I cadence is Gm7, C7, Fmaj7.
Reading F major on the staff
F major has one flat, B flat. It is the white key scale with the odd fingering: the right hand plays 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4, because the usual 1 2 3 1 would put the thumb on B flat.
On the treble staff, F4 to F5 needs no ledger lines. On the bass staff, F3 to F4 needs 2 ledger lines above the staff. Because of those ledger lines, left hand parts in this key are often written an octave lower, from F2.
The reading trap in F major is the key signature: the flats are written once at the start of the line, not next to the notes. Before you play, say the altered notes out loud (B♭), then check every B on the page.
How to practise the F major scale
- Say the notes before you play them: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F.
- Play hands separately, one octave, at a slow steady pulse (60 beats per minute, one note per beat), using 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 in the right hand and 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 in the left.
- Stop on each thumb crossing and check the next finger is already over its key before you move.
- Add the descending scale with the same fingers in reverse, then go to two octaves.
- Put the hands together only when each hand can play it three times in a row without a stop, then raise the tempo by about 8 beats per minute at a time.
- Finish with the primary chords: F (F A C), B♭ (B♭ D F) and C (C E G).
Clef, our iPhone and iPad app, drills major scales, triads and arpeggios with its on-screen controls or a connected MIDI keyboard, then brings each one back on a spaced schedule so it stays learned.
Keys related to F major
- D minor scale: relative minor, same key signature
- F minor scale: parallel minor, same tonic
- C major scale: a fifth above, no sharps or flats
- B flat major scale: a fifth below, 2 flats
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the F major scale?
The F major scale is F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F, then F again an octave higher.
How many flats are in F major?
F major has 1 flat: B♭.
What is the relative minor of F major?
D minor. It uses the same key signature and the same notes, starting on D.
What chords are in F major?
F (I), Gm (ii), Am (iii), B♭ (IV), C (V), Dm (vi), E° (vii°).
What is the fingering for the F major scale on piano?
Right hand 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 going up from F; left hand 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 going up. Reverse the numbers to come down.