Chords in the Key of F Major

We’ll now look at the chords appearing within the key of F Major scale.

Start with the scale, giving each note a scale degree number:

F G A A# C D E F
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1

If you are confused about the chords or want to look at all the types of chords first before starting with this topic, you can check the overview of chords here.

Keeping in mind the numbering notation of major and minor chords, here are the primary and secondary triads of the scale. The Major chords are numbered in capitals, minor chords in smalls, and diminished chords in smalls followed by °.

Primary Triads (Chords) in the Key of F Major

Use the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale to build the primary triads:

  • Chord I- F Major: F A C 

F Major Chord

  • Chord IV- A#Major: A# D F 

A# Major Chord

  • Chord V- C Major: C E G

C Major Chord

Because we are in a major key, you’ll notice that each of these primary chords is major.

Secondary Triads (Chords) in the Key of F Major

Let’s look now at the secondary chords occurring in F Major:

  • Chord ii- G Minor: G A# D

G Minor Chord

  • Chord iii- A Minor: A C E

A Minor Chord

  • Chord vi- D Minor: D F A

D Minor Chord

Just like in other major keys, chords two, three and six are minor, including the tonic of the relative minor— D minor— on scale degree six.

  • Chord vii° – E diminished: E G A#

Like in all major scales, building a chord on the seventh note of the minor scale will produce a diminished chord.

Extended Chords

We can also build the following four-note jazz chords by using the notes of F Major:

  • F Major 7th: F A C E
  • G Minor 7th: G A# D F
  • A Minor 7th: A C E G
  • A# Major 7th: A# D F A
  • C Dominant 7th (C7): C E G A#
  • D minor 7th: D F A C
  • E minor 7th Flat 5th (Em7b5): E G A# D

More Chords in different Keys:

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