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Guitar chords · Major

F chord on guitar

F (F major) has three notes: F, A and C, the , 3 and 5.

Shapes

How to play F

Strum a shape to hear it, or pick it one string at a time. R marks the ; the other numbers are the chord tones.

F has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8. A keeps its fingering anywhere on the neck: slide it up or down and the , on the lowest played string, names the chord.

  • E shape · fret 1

    R5R35RFCFACF

  • A shape · fret 8

    8fr×R5R35FCFAC
Name a shape you're holding: the chord finder

Notes and formula

What makes F major

A major chord stacks a major 3rd and a perfect 5th on the . It is the bright, settled sound most songs start and end on.

  • 1Root: the note the chord is named after. Keep it.
  • 3Essential: makes the chord what it is. Never drop it.
  • 5Optional: drop it first when you run out of fingers.

The 3rd makes F a major chord; you can leave out the 5th.

  1. FRroot
  2. A3essential
  3. C5optional
EADGBE0135791215FFFFFFFFFACACACACACACACAC
  • F, the root
  • Other chord tones

Keys

Keys with F

F belongs to seven keys: C major (IV), B♭ major (V), F major (I), A minor (VI), B♭ minor (V, ), G minor (VII) and D minor (III).

Numerals follow the key's own scale, so III, VI and VII in a minor key are its own major chords. A ♭ or ♯ in front marks a chord from outside the key. How Roman numerals work

Progressions

Progressions with F

Common progressions that use F, each in a key that spells it F. The outlined chord is F.

  • The pop axis in F major

    I – V – vi – IV

    1. F
    2. C
    3. Dm
    4. B♭

    Four chords that carry a huge share of modern pop. All four sit next to each other on the circle.

    Heard in Let It Be, No Woman No Cry, With or Without You

  • Three-chord rock in F major

    I – IV – V – IV

    1. F
    2. B♭
    3. C
    4. B♭

    Tonic, subdominant, dominant: the key and its two neighbours on the outer ring.

    Heard in La Bamba, Twist and Shout, Wild Thing

  • '50s doo-wop in F major

    I – vi – IV – V

    1. F
    2. Dm
    3. B♭
    4. C

    The vi chord softens the move from I to IV before the V pulls back home.

    Heard in Stand by Me, Every Breath You Take

  • Minor pop in A minor

    i – VI – III – VII

    1. Am
    2. F
    3. C
    4. G

    The pop axis rotated to start on the relative minor — same four chords, darker centre.

    Heard in Zombie, Numb, Despacito

  • Andalusian cadence in A minor

    i – VII – VI – V

    1. Am
    2. G
    3. F
    4. E

    A stepwise walk down to a major V borrowed from harmonic minor. Flamenco's signature move.

    Heard in Hit the Road Jack, Runaway, Stray Cat Strut

Slash chords

F over another bass note

A keeps F on top and puts another note in the bass: the letter after the slash is the lowest note you play.

  • F/A

    F with its 3rd, A, in the bass: the first inversion.

  • F/C

    F with its 5th, C, in the bass: the second inversion.

  • F/E

    F over E, a passing bass a below the , as in F, F/E, Dm.

  • F/E♭

    F over E♭, a passing bass a below the , as in F, F/E♭, B♭.

Same root

Other chords on F

Change one or two notes and the same gives a different colour. Compare them by ear.

Questions

F, in short

What notes are in the F chord?
F (F major) has three notes: F, A and C, the , 3 and 5.
How do you play F on guitar?
F has no common . Play it as the E shape at 1 or the A shape at fret 8.
What key is F in?
F belongs to seven keys: C major (IV), B♭ major (V), F major (I), A minor (VI), B♭ minor (V, ), G minor (VII) and D minor (III).
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