F major scale on bass
The F major scale has seven notes: F, G, A, B♭, C, D and E (1 2 3 4 5 6 7). The do-re-mi scale that every other scale is measured against. Bright and settled; it fits major and maj7 chords, and the other six modes are this scale started from a different note.
| Note | F | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interval | 1 (root) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Step to the next | whole | whole | half | whole | whole | whole | half |
7 positions to learn it in
Played three notes on every string, the F major scale has a position starting on each of its notes. They are good for speed, with the same picking pattern on every string. Press Play to hear each one, up and back down.
Chords that go with the F major scale
The chords on each note of the scale that use only its notes. Play over any of them and every note fits; F (F) is where it sounds at home.
| On the | Chord | Seventh chord |
|---|---|---|
| root (F) | Fhome | Fmaj7home |
| 2 (G) | Gmrestless | Gm7restless |
| 3 (A) | Amhalf-light | Am7half-light |
| 4 (B♭) | B♭the door | B♭maj7the door |
| 5 (C) | Cthe pull | C7the pull |
| 6 (D) | Dmthe shadow | Dm7the shadow |
| 7 (E) | Edimthe edge | Em7♭5the edge |
Scales with the same notes
Its relative minor is the D minor scale: the same notes, started from D.
The chords of this key, to hear and play: chords in the key of F major.
Questions
What notes are in the F major scale?
F, G, A, B♭, C, D and E. Its intervals from the root are 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, and the steps between its notes are W W H W W W H (W a whole step, H a half step).
What chords go with the F major scale?
The chords made only of its notes: F, Gm, Am, B♭, C, Dm and Edim, and as seventh chords Fmaj7, Gm7, Am7, B♭maj7, C7, Dm7 and Em7♭5. F is home: F is the chord it sounds most settled over.
What is the relative minor of the F major scale?
The D minor scale, which has the same notes started from D.
The major scale in every key
Other scales in F
F minorF minor pentatonicF major pentatonicF bluesF DorianF MixolydianF LydianF PhrygianF harmonic minorF melodic minorF Phrygian dominant
Practise it on a sheet of your own in the practice sheet maker, with a metronome and a drone. Every scale: bass scales. This scale on guitar, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.