Chords in the Key of F
F, Gm, Am, Bb, C, Dm and Edim, plus easier ways to play the barre chords
F is the key that keeps piano players and singers happy and makes guitarists sweat a little. The chords in the key of F major are F, Gm, Am, Bb, C, Dm and Edim. Its one flat, Bb, gives you a Bb chord where the sharp keys have B or Bm.
Three of these chords (F, Gm and Bb) are barre chords in their usual shapes. That makes F a great key to practice barre chords with a purpose, and the tips below show lighter versions of all three.
Chord Chart for the Key of F
Every chord here uses only notes of the F major scale: F G A Bb C D E.
| Numeral | Chord | Notes | 7th chord | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | F | F A C | Fmaj7 | Tonic: the home chord |
| ii | Gm | G Bb D | Gm7 | Leads to the V chord |
| iii | Am | A C E | Am7 | Shares two notes with I |
| IV | Bb | Bb D F | Bbmaj7 | Moves away from home |
| V | C | C E G | C7 | Pulls back to I |
| vi | Dm | D F A | Dm7 | Relative minor, a softer home |
| vii° | Edim | E G Bb | Em7b5 | Tense, leans into I |
C7 is the V7 of F, and C7 to F is the strongest move in the key. Fmaj7 and Bbmaj7 give the key a mellow, bossa-like color.
F Major Chord Diagrams
The standard shape of each chord, as shown first on its chord page. Am, C and Dm are open; F, Gm and Bb need a barre.
F - Bb - C - Dm in Sound
Here is the I-IV-V-vi set of F major, one bar each. Listen to the move from Bb to C, the part of the loop that pushes forward.
Chord Progressions in F
Three loops to practice the F, Bb and Gm changes in a musical context.
Axis Chord Progression: F - C - Dm - Bb
The I-V-vi-IV loop in F. The Bb is the tricky change: play the four-string Bb (x1333x) the first few times round.
Hear it in five keys, with songs that use it
Circle Progression: F - Dm - Gm - C
The turnaround of a hundred standards. Every chord falls a fifth to the next one, ending on C, which leads back to F.
IV-I-V-vi: Bb - F - C - Dm
Starting on the IV gives this loop a floating, unresolved quality that suits ballads. It never quite lands, so it is easy to repeat for a whole chorus.
Full page: chords in five keys and songs
Making F Major Easier on Guitar
- Use the small shapes: F (xx3211), Bb (x1333x) and Gm (xx5333) skip the full barre and sound great in a band.
- Capo trick: put a capo on the 3rd fret and play the shapes of D major, or on the 5th fret and play the shapes of C. Both put you in F with open-chord fingerings.
- D minor is the relative minor of F, so the D minor scale and the F major scale share the same notes.
Keep Learning
- D minor scale, the relative minor
- F major scale on the fretboard
- How to find the key of a song
- Circle of fifths, to see how the keys connect
- Transpose chords to another key
- All chord progressions
Chords in other keys: E minor · G major · C major · D major · A minor · A major · E major
Created by
Giancarlo is a musician (teaching guitar since 2000), software engineer, AI consultant and published researcher
FAQ
What chords are in the key of F major?
F (I), Gm (ii), Am (iii), Bb (IV), C (V), Dm (vi) and Edim (vii°).
Why is there a Bb chord in the key of F?
The F major scale has one flat, Bb. The IV chord is built on that note, so it is Bb major (Bb D F), not B or Bm.
What is the easiest way to play in F on guitar?
Use a capo on the 3rd fret with D shapes, or on the 5th fret with C shapes. Without a capo, the small F (xx3211), Bb (x1333x) and Gm (xx5333) avoid the full barre.
What is the relative minor of F major?
D minor. Both keys have one flat and the same seven chords.
