the F major scale has just a single flat (1 ♭) and according to the order of flats it is the B flat (B♭).
The names of the notes in the F major scale are: F G A B♭ C D E
Like all other major scales, F major scale is composed by this sequence of
whole steps and half steps (tones and semitones ):
:1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 half step / 1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 Whole step / 1 half step
: 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 semitone / 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 Tone / 1 semitone
Key signature of F major scale
The key signature of F Major has only one flat (1♭).
F Major scale in most common clefs
Here is F major scale in most common clefs: treble clef, bass clef, tenor clef and alto clef.
F Major scale in treble clef (G-clef)
Below is the F major scale in treble clef:
F Major scale in bass clef
Below is the F major scale in bass clef:
F Major scale in alto clef
Below is the F major scale in alto clef:
F Major scale in tenor clef
Below is the F major scale in tenor clef:
Scale degrees of F major
The degrees of F major scale are:
F : degree I (Tonic)
G : degree II (Supertonic)
A : degree III (Mediant)
B♭ : degree IV (Subdominant)
C : degree V (Dominant)
D : degree VI (Submediant)
E : degree VII (Leading Tone)
Closely related keys of F Major
Closely related keys of F Major are:
- C Major
- B flat Major
- G minor
- D minor
- A minor
Relative minor key of F Major
The relative minor key of F Major is D minor and below if the D minor natural scale:
Parallel Key of F Major
Parallel Key of F Major (or homonymous key) is F minor scale, here is the F harmonic minor scale :
Leading Tone of F Major
The leading Tone of F Major is E, because E is the degree VII and is distant to a seventh major of the tonic, or an half step (semitone ) lower than the tonic).
Chords of F major scale
Here are triad chords for F Major scale:
Chord I : F Major (Notes: F A C)
Chord II : G minor (Notes: G B♭ D)
Chord III : A minor (Notes: A C E)
Chord IV : B♭ Major (Notes: B♭ D F)
Chord V : C Major (Notes: C E G)
Chord VI : D minor (Notes: D F A)
Chord VII : E diminished (Notes: E G B♭)
F major scale on a piano
Below is the F major scale on a piano:
You will notice that only the white piano keys are used. Music notes must be played successively from left to right to obtain the ascending scale, or from right to left for the descending scale.
F major triad chord
The F major triad chord as a root note (F), a major third (F / A) and a perfect fifth (F / C):
And below is the F major triad chord on a piano keyboard:
Authentic cadence (perfect cadence) in F major
Here is an Authentic cadence (perfect cadence ) in F major :
F major scale video
Here is the F major scale video:
F major on the circle of fifths
You can find F major on the circle of fifths and its key signature, relative minor key and closely related keys :
Famous works F major
Here are some works by famous composers composed in F major:
Autumn, The Four seasons by Vivaldi
The Four Seasons composed by Vivaldi has several movements, including the movement Autumn in F major. Here is an excerpt from the beginning of this movement:
Notice the two half-cadences
(Imperfect cadences
) V, and the authentic cadence
(perfect cadence
) V I at the end of this extract.
The four seasons by Vivaldi is a concerto for solo violin, accompanied by an instrumental ensemble composed of violins, violas, cellos and a basso continuo (harpsichord).
Symphony No. 6, Beethoven
The key of F major is used by Beethoven in his symphony n°6 also known as the Pastoral Symphony:
In this extract from the first movement arranged for piano by the famous pianist and composer Franz Liszt, you will also notice the half-cadence (Imperfect cadence ) V which happen very early in this beginning of this symphony, this immediately gives an atmosphere of lightness, as if time was suspended.
test your knowledge
How much flats in F major?
- Not enough for me
- none
- 1♭
- 2♭
What is the relative minor of F major?
- A minor
- B minor
- C minor
- D minor
What is the dominant note in F major?
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
- F
- G
What are the major chords of F major?
- degrees I II and III
- degrees IV V and VI
- degrees I IV and V
What are the minor chords of F major?
- degrees I II and III
- degrees II III and VI
- degrees I V and V
F major key signature
What is the key signature of F major? How many flats are in the key of F major key? Here is the answer: