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Key

F major

F major is the major key with F as its tonic and one flat, B♭. It lies directly next to C major on the circle of fifths, a fifth lower. Its relative key is D minor.

Tonic
F
Key signature
1 flat (B♭)
Tonic chord
F major, F–A–C
Subdominant
B♭ major, B♭–D–F
Dominant
C major, C–E–G
Leading tone
E
Relative key
D minor
Neighbours on the circle of fifths
C major, B♭ major

The first flat key

Going anticlockwise on the circle of fifths, C major is followed first by F major with one flat. If you begin the major pattern on F, the semitone step between the third and fourth degrees falls on A–B♭ instead of A–B, so the B has to be lowered to B♭. In flat keys the tonic is the next-to-last flat; F major with only one flat is one of the two exceptions to this rule; the other is C major without any accidentals.

F major scale

F G A B♭ C D E F 1 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½

The major pattern on F needs B♭ instead of B so that the semitone step falls between the third and fourth degrees.

The chords of F major

The seven degrees yield F, Gm, Am, B♭, C, Dm and E°. The progression I–V–vi–IV is F–C–Dm–B♭ here. As in every major key: tonic (F), subdominant (B♭) and dominant (C) are the main functions.

2 ♭B♭ majorrelative G minor
1 ♭F majorrelative D minor
noneC majorrelative A minor
Practice: In the module Key Signatures you recognise F major by one flat in the key signature. On the later levels all seven flat keys are added. In the Circle of Fifths exercise you place the key in the circle.

Pieces in F major

All four sheets carry one flat in the key signature.

Piano

Guitar

Common mistakes

  • Forgetting the flat: It applies to every B of the whole piece.
  • Confusing F major and D minor: Both have one flat. The ending decides.
  • Playing B natural: F major has B♭, not B.

Continue on Maikstrings

Circle of fifths

F major in context: the first flat, D minor as the relative.

Key Signatures

Recognise the key signature with one flat and name the key.

The first year on the guitar

Shapes that also occur in F major.

Related terms

MajorC majorD minorKeyRelative keyCircle of fifthsAccidentalScale

Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 3 October 2026

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