I-IV-V (the Three Chord Trick)
I · IV · V
The most fundamental progression in Western music.
Key of F
The Key of F Major
The chords in the key of F major are F, Gm, Am, B♭, C, Dm and Edim.
The first flat key — and the guitar's first wall.
Below: all seven diatonic chords with guitar shapes and audio, the scale, the key signature (B♭), 8 progressions already transposed into this key, and the keys next door.
Diatonic chords
The 7 chords in the key of F major
Each degree of the F major scale carries one chord. Roman numerals show the degree; the function column tells you what the chord does. Every name links to its full chord page — press play to hear it on guitar.
| Degree | Function | Chord | Guitar shape | Hear it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | TonicTonicHome — rests | FF · A · C | ||
| ii | SubdominantSupertonicDeparts — sets up the V | GmG · B♭ · D | ||
| iii | TonicMediantHome — rests | AmA · C · E | ||
| IV | SubdominantSubdominantDeparts — sets up the V | B♭B♭ · D · F | ||
| V | DominantDominantPulls back to I | CC · E · G | ||
| vi | TonicSubmediantHome — rests | DmD · F · A | ||
| vii° | DominantLeading tonePulls back to I | EdimE · G · B♭ |
Want the same chords on another instrument? Every chord page carries piano, ukulele, bass, mandolin and banjo shapes — start with piano.
Character
Why songs live in F major
F major is where beginners meet the barre chord, because the tonic itself is one. The payoff is repertoire: F, Bb, C, Dm and Gm underpin an enormous slice of jazz standards and horn-driven pop, largely because Bb instruments read this key comfortably. Guitarists who don't want the barre usually capo at the first fret and play E-major shapes.
Scale
The F major scale
Seven notes, in order from the tonic. Tap any note to hear it, or play the whole scale ascending.
Fretboard patterns and full scale reference: F Major (Ionian).
Key signature
The F major key signature
B♭
F major is written with 1 flat. Every B in the music is played flat unless an accidental says otherwise. Its relative minor, D minor, shares this signature exactly.
Progressions
Chord progressions in F major
The most-used progressions, already transposed into F major. Every chord links to its own page; the progression name opens the full breakdown.
I-V-vi-IV (the Pop Punk Progression)
I · V · vi · IV
The 4-chord pop progression that powers thousands of hits.
vi-IV-I-V (Sensitive Female)
vi · IV · I · V
The minor-flavored sibling of I-V-vi-IV.
I-vi-IV-V (the Doo-Wop)
I · vi · IV · V
The 1950s ballad backbone.
I-IV-I-V
I · IV · I · V
Classic 4-bar phrase with a leading-tone pull on bar 4.
I-♭VII-IV (Mixolydian Rock)
I · ♭VII · IV
Mixolydian flavor; classic rock pull.
12-Bar Blues
I · I · I · I · IV · IV · I · I · V · IV · I · V
The defining blues form. 4 bars I, 2 bars IV, 2 bars I, 1 bar V, 1 bar IV, 1 bar I, 1 bar V (turnaround).
8-Bar Blues
I · V · IV · IV · I · V · I · V
Compressed blues form.
FAQ
Questions about the key of F major
- What chords are in the key of F major?
- The key of F major contains seven diatonic chords: F (I), Gm (ii), Am (iii), Bb (IV), C (V), Dm (vi), Edim (vii°). Most songs in F major lean on F, Bb and C — the tonic, subdominant and dominant.
- What is the relative minor of F major?
- D minor is the relative minor of F major. Both keys share the same key signature (1 flat) and exactly the same seven notes — D minor simply treats D as home instead of F, which is why you can borrow chords freely between them.
- What are the easiest chords in F major to play on guitar?
- Am, C, Dm and Edim are the open shapes in F major — no barre required. The rest of the diatonic chords need a barre or a movable grip, so many players capo instead and use familiar open shapes from an easier key.
Learn the theory
Read up on F major
This page is the reference. These are the guides that explain how a key works in the first place — read one and the table above stops needing to be looked up.