F major scale on mandolin
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 |
3 positions to learn it in
Each stretch here is a few frets you can play without moving the hand: the open position, then from the root on the lowest 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: mandolin scales. This scale on guitar, bass, ukulele and banjo.