The guitar chords F major is a major triad made from the notes F A C. You might see it notated in lead sheet symbols as F, F Maj, or F△. F major is also the tonic of the key F major, which has 1 flat. You might also see an F major chord in the keys of C Major, Bb Major, or D minor.
If this is a lot of information to take in all at once, don’t worry! We explain all these concepts and more below. Most importantly, we list the many different ways to play F major all over your fretboard so you can decide which voicing best fits into your unique sound.
F Major chord Theory
First things first, let’s learn some theory!
- The notes in an F major chord are F A C
- A triad is a 3 note chord.
- A major triad is built from the root, major 3rd, and perfect 5th of a major scale.
- F to A is a major 3rd (M3), while F to C make a perfect fifth (P5).
F -> A = M3
F -> C = P5
M3 + P5 = major triad
Jazz music often uses lead sheet symbols to notate chords. You might see F Major notated in the following ways: F, F Maj, F△.
Related: All About Jazz Chords
How To Play F Major
Method 1
This barre chord shape is among the most popular ways to play F Major.
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 6th string and barre.
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string.
- Place your pinky on the 3rd fret of the 4th string.
Method 2
- Place your index finger on the 8th fret of the 5th string.
- Place your middle finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string.
- Place your ring finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your pinky on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
F Major Easy
Method 3
This easy open chord shape is very common in guitar music!
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string and barre.
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your ring finger on the 3rd fret of the 4th string.
Alternative Ways To Play F Major
Method 4
- Place your index finger on the 8th fret of the 1st string.
- Place your ring finger on the 10th fret of the 3rd string.
- Place your pinky on the 10th fret of the 2nd string.
Method 5
This way only uses one finger! Try it out!
- Place your index finger on the 10th fret of the 4th string and barre.
Method 6
- Place your index finger on the 1st fret of the 2nd string and barre.
- Place your middle finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you play F Major chord on guitar easily?
Play a root position triad on the 4th string for an easy f guitar chord.
In other words, use the F on the 4th string and make a simple triad in open position. (method 3)
Remember not to ring out the high E string! Otherwise it turns into a F Maj 7 chord! Unless you like that way better! 🙂
What chords are in the key of F major?
The diatonic chords in F major are:
F Maj, G min, A min, Bb Maj, C Maj, D min, E°.
If you wanted to make these 7th chords they would be:
F Maj 7, G Min 7, A min 7, Bb Maj 7, C7, D min7, Em7b5
What is F major chord progression?
- I – IV – V (F – Bb – C)
- I – vi – IV – V (F – Dm – Bb – C)
- ii – V – I (Gm7 – C7 – Fmaj7)
Conclusion
While F Major is simple to get theoretically, it can be difficult when played as a barre. The open position chord should be used instead. F major is made from the notes F A C. Not only does this chord occur in the key of F major, but also in other common keys such as C Major, Bb Major, and D minor. Major triads are built from a root, M3, and P5. The keys of F major and D minor have the same key signature, we call keys with this relationship relative keys.
