F major scale on piano
The F major scale uses the notes F - G - A - B♭ - C - D - E and has 1 flat.
Numbers on the keys are right-hand fingers (1 = thumb, 5 = little finger).
F major scale fingering
| Hand | F | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Practice each hand alone, slowly, until the thumb crossing feels smooth. Then play hands together at a tempo where you make no mistakes, and raise it a little each day.
Chords in F major
Build a triad on every note of the scale and you get the seven chords that belong to this key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | F major | F - A - C |
| ii | G minor | G - B♭ - D |
| iii | A minor | A - C - E |
| IV | B♭ major | B♭ - D - F |
| V | C major | C - E - G |
| vi | D minor | D - F - A |
| vii° | E diminished | E - G - B♭ |
The most common progression in pop music in this key is F - C - Dm - B♭ (I - V - vi - IV).
Relative key
D minor is the relative minor of F major. Both scales use the same notes; they simply start on a different note, which changes the mood.
Frequently asked questions
What are the notes of the F major scale?
F major: F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F.
How many sharps or flats are in F major?
F major has 1 flat (B♭).
What is the relative minor of F major?
D minor. It shares the same notes and key signature as F major.