F major
One flat, B♭. Seven notes: F G A B♭ C D E. Try the key’s seven chords in different places on the neck. Press a shape to hear it and see its notes.
Across one chord in different positions. Down the chords in one position. | ||||
| IMainFF · A · C | ||||
| iiGmG · B♭ · D | ||||
| iiiAmA · C · E | ||||
| IVMainB♭B♭ · D · F | ||||
| VMainCC · E · G | ||||
| viMainDmD · F · A | ||||
| vii°E°E · G · B♭ |
Light up
Sounds good
Three patterns to try
Walk up to B♭. Strum F, pick G and A on the way up, land on B♭. Listen to how the bass connects the chords.
Triads on the top three strings. Three notes, three places, all F. Try them when a full six-string chord feels too busy.
- LowFrets 1–2
- MiddleFrets 5–6
- HighFrets 8–10
Same chords, higher. The four main chords in frets 1 to 3, then again in frets 5 to 8. Listen to how the higher voicings change the sound.
Exercises in F major
Four drills, with a click
Play along with the metronome. The neck above highlights each step.
- Four chords in one positionF – B♭ – C – Dm without leaving frets 2 to 6.70 bpmLevel 1
- Climb with one chordF in all four places, low to high. Hear it brighten.60 bpmLevel 1
- Walk up to B♭Strum F, then walk the bass G – A into B♭.90 bpmLevel 2
- Scale, then chordsPlay the scale in frets 5 to 8, then the four chords there.70 bpmLevel 2
Why one flat
C major with B lowered
F major
- F
- G
- A
- B♭
- C
- D
- E
C major
- F
- G
- A
- B
- C
- D
- E
F major is C major with B lowered to B♭.