transpose.siteChords in the key of F (F major)
Songs in F use the seven notes of the F major scale: F G A B♭ C D E. The key signature has 1 (B♭). The seven chords built on these notes are the ones you will meet most in F.
Diatonic chords in F
| Degree | I | ii | iii | IV | V | vi | vii° |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Triad | F | Gm | Am | B♭ | C | Dm | Edim |
| Seventh | Fmaj7 | Gm7 | Am7 | B♭maj7 | C7 | Dm7 | Em7(♭5) |
| Role | tonic (home) | subdominant side | tonic substitute | subdominant | dominant (tension) | tonic substitute, relative minor | dominant substitute |
I
ii
iii
IV
V
vi
Common progressions in F
- F – C – Dm – B♭ (I – V – vi – IV, the most common pop progression)
- F – Dm – B♭ – C (I – vi – IV – V, the '50s progression, ballads)
- Dm – B♭ – F – C (vi – IV – I – V, the same four chords with a minor feel)
- Gm – C – F (ii – V – I, the classic jazz and ballad cadence)
- F – B♭ – C (I – IV – V, rock and blues basics)
Playing in F with a capo
If the barre chords are hard, put on a capo and use the shapes of an easier key.
- Capo on fret 1 + play E shapes (chords in E)
- Capo on fret 3 + play D shapes (chords in D)
- Capo on fret 5 + play C shapes (chords in C)
To move a whole PDF score to an easier key, open it in the free PDF transposer: chords and TAB change together.
Relative minor: D minor
D minor (Dm) uses the same seven notes as F major. If a song starts and ends on Dm, it is in D minor.
Chords in D minor: i Dm · ii° Edim · III F · iv Gm · v Am · VI B♭ · VII C (A7 is common in place of v)
- Dm – B♭ – F – C (i – VI – III – VII, minor-key rock and ballads)
- Dm – Gm – Am – Dm (i – iv – v – i, minor-key basics (V7 often replaces v))
- Dm – C – B♭ – C (i – VII – VI – VII, a rock riff progression)