F Major Scale
The F major scale (also called F Ionian) contains F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E. Its key signature has 1 flat: Bb.
| Note | F | G | A | Bb | C | D | E | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Right hand | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Left hand | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
Piano fingering for one octave going up; 1 is the thumb. Coming down, play the same fingers in reverse.
F major scale fingering
Right hand, going up: the thumb tucks under to C. Left hand, going up: finger 3 crosses over the thumb to D. Practise each hand alone, slowly, until the turns are smooth, then play hands together.
Key signature
F major has 1 flat: Bb. Its relative minor is D minor, which uses the same notes and key signature. See the chords in the key of F major and of D minor.
Scale degrees
| Degree | Note | Semitones from F |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | 0 |
| 2 | G | 2 |
| 3 | A | 4 |
| 4 | Bb | 5 |
| 5 | C | 7 |
| 6 | D | 9 |
| 7 | E | 11 |
Step pattern
The Major scale is built from the pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H (W = whole step, H = half step). Apply that pattern from any starting note and you get the same mode in a different key.
Chords in F Major
Building a triad on each degree of the scale gives you the chords that belong to it. These are the chords to reach for when writing in F Major.
Other modes on F
More scales on F
Major scale in other keys
Frequently asked questions
What notes are in the F Major scale?
The F Major scale contains F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, then returns to F an octave higher.
What is the fingering for the F major scale on piano?
Going up from F to F, the right hand plays 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 and the left hand plays 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1, where 1 is the thumb. Coming down, use the same fingers in reverse.
How many flats are in F major?
F major has 1 flat: Bb.
What is the step pattern of the Major scale?
The Major scale follows the whole/half step pattern W – W – H – W – W – W – H, where W is a whole step (two semitones) and H is a half step (one semitone).
Which chords work with the F Major scale?
The diatonic chords are F, Gm, Am, Bb, C, Dm, Edim. Each is built only from notes of the F Major scale, so they all belong to the same tonality — though the diminished chord carries a tritone and normally wants to resolve.