Key · major
The key of F Major
F Major has 1 flat (B♭). Its scale is F G A B♭ C D E. The seven chords built on those degrees are I F, ii Gm, iii Am, IV B♭, V C, vi Dm and vii° Edim; the dominant is C and the subdominant B♭. Its relative minor is D Minor and its parallel minor is F Minor.
The scale on the keyboard
Fingering for both hands, the step pattern and the other forms are on the F Major scale page.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Name | Interval from the tonic |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | Tonic | Unison |
| 2 | G | Supertonic | Major 2nd |
| 3 | A | Mediant | Major 3rd |
| 4 | B♭ | Subdominant | Perfect 4th |
| 5 | C | Dominant | Perfect 5th |
| 6 | D | Submediant | Major 6th |
| 7 | E | Leading Tone | Major 7th |
Chords in F Major
One chord on each degree of the scale. The dominant is C and the subdominant B♭.
| Numeral | Triad | Quality | Seventh |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | F | Major | Fmaj7 |
| ii | Gm | Minor | Gm7 |
| iii | Am | Minor | Am7 |
| IV | B♭ | Major | B♭maj7 |
| V | C | Major | C7 |
| vi | Dm | Minor | Dm7 |
| vii° | Edim | Diminished | Em7♭5 |
Chord functions
| Function | Chords |
|---|---|
| Tonic | I · iii · vi |
| Subdominant | ii · IV |
| Dominant | V · vii° |
Common progressions in F Major
| Progression | Chords | Level |
|---|---|---|
| I – IV – V | F – B♭ – C | Easy |
| I – IV – V – I | F – B♭ – C – F | Easy |
| I – V – vi – IV | F – C – Dm – B♭ | Easy |
| I – vi – IV – V | F – Dm – B♭ – C | Easy |
| I – IV – I – V | F – B♭ – F – C | Easy |
| I – V – IV – I | F – C – B♭ – F | Easy |
| I – IV – V – IV | F – B♭ – C – B♭ | Easy |
| I – ii – IV – V | F – Gm – B♭ – C | Easy |
| vi – IV – I – V | Dm – B♭ – F – C | Medium |
| I – vi – ii – V | F – Dm – Gm – C | Medium |
| I – IV – vi – V | F – B♭ – Dm – C | Medium |
| I – iii – IV – V | F – Am – B♭ – C | Medium |
| I – iii – vi – IV | F – Am – Dm – B♭ | Medium |
| IV – I – V – vi | B♭ – F – C – Dm | Medium |
| I – V – vi – iii – IV – I – IV – V | F – C – Dm – Am – B♭ – F – B♭ – C | Medium |
| I – IV – vii° – iii – vi – ii – V – I | F – B♭ – Edim – Am – Dm – Gm – C – F | Hard |
| ii – V – I | Gm – C – F | Medium |
| iim7 – V7 – Imaj7 | Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7 | Hard |
| ii – V – I – vi | Gm – C – F – Dm | Hard |
| I – VI – ii – V | F – D – Gm – C | Hard |
| I – II – V – I | F – G – C – F | Hard |
| I – bVII – IV – I | F – E♭ – B♭ – F | Medium |
| I – bIII – IV | F – A♭ – B♭ | Medium |
| I – V – bVII – IV | F – C – E♭ – B♭ | Medium |
| I – bVI – bVII – I | F – D♭ – E♭ – F | Hard |
| I – IV – iv – I | F – B♭ – B♭m – F | Hard |
| 12-Bar Blues (I7 – IV7 – V7) | F7 – F7 – F7 – F7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 | Medium |
| Quick-Change Blues | F7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – B♭7 – B♭7 – F7 – F7 – C7 – B♭7 – F7 – C7 | Medium |
The other keys
Part of the key reference. See also the chords and the scales.