F Major Chord on Piano
The F chord (F major) is built from 3 notes: F – A – C.
Play these notes on a MIDI keyboard, your computer keyboard, or the on-screen keys and ChordKeys will name the chord back to you.
Notes and intervals
| Note | Degree | Interval from F | Semitones |
|---|---|---|---|
| F | 1 | root | 0 |
| A | 3 | major 3rd | 4 |
| C | 5 | perfect 5th | 7 |
Inversions
Rearranging which note sits at the bottom gives you 3 playable voicings of the same chord. Inversions let you move between chords with less hand movement.
| Voicing | Notes | Bass note |
|---|---|---|
| Root position | F – A – C | F in the bass |
| 1st inversion | A – C – F | A in the bass |
| 2nd inversion | C – F – A | C in the bass |
How the major chord is built
Every major chord uses the same interval formula: 1 (0 semitones), 3 (4 semitones), 5 (7 semitones). Starting on F and applying that formula produces F, A, C. Learn the formula once and you can build a major chord on any of the twelve roots.
Keys that contain F
Every note of F belongs to these keys, so it will sit naturally in a progression written in any of them.
Other chords on F
Major chords on other roots
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in a F chord?
A F chord contains the notes F, A, C. Those are the 1, 3, 5 degrees measured from the root note F.
How do you play F on piano?
Place your thumb on F, then add A and C above it. With a right hand in root position the common fingering is 1–3–5.