F Major
Key Signature
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Tonic | F |
| Mode | Major |
| Accidentals | 1 flat |
| Key Signature Notes | Bb |
F major has one flat (Bb) and a warm, pastoral quality. It is one of the most natural keys for wind instruments and is frequently used in orchestral and choral music.
Diatonic Chords
The seven diatonic chords of F Major — each built on a scale degree using only the notes of the key signature:
| Degree | Roman Numeral | Chord Type | Chord |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I | Major | F Major |
| 2 | ii | Minor | G Minor |
| 3 | iii | Minor | A Minor |
| 4 | IV | Major | Bb Major |
| 5 | V | Major | C Major |
| 6 | vi | Minor | D Minor |
| 7 | vii° | Diminished | E Diminished |
Related Keys
- Relative Minor
- D Minor — shares the same key signature.
- Parallel Minor
- F Minor — same tonic, different key signature.
See all key relationships on the Circle of Fifths.
Scales in F Major
Common scales built from the F tonic:
Transposing Instrument Context
Bb instruments (trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone) read in G major to sound F Major. Eb instruments (alto saxophone, Eb clarinet) read in D major to sound F Major. Flat-key signatures are particularly comfortable for woodwind instruments designed around Bb and Eb transpositions.