F major chords, relative minor and Camelot code (7B)
F major has 1 flat (B♭). Its chords are F, Gm, Am, B♭, C, Dm and E°. The relative minor is D minor and the Camelot code is 7B, so it mixes cleanly with 6B, 8B and 7A.
Notes in the F major scale
F major has 1 flat (B♭).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F | G | A | B♭ | C | D | E |
Chords in F major
Stack every other note of the scale on each degree and you get the seven chords that belong to the key:
| Degree | Chord | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| I | F | F · A · C |
| ii | Gm | G · B♭ · D |
| iii | Am | A · C · E |
| IV | B♭ | B♭ · D · F |
| V | C | C · E · G |
| vi | Dm | D · F · A |
| vii° | E° | E · G · B♭ |
Common progressions in F major
- F – C – Dm – B♭ (I–V–vi–IV): the most used pop progression of the last forty years.
- F – Dm – B♭ – C (I–vi–IV–V): the 1950s doo-wop turnaround.
- Gm – C – F (ii–V–I): the jazz cadence.
- Dm – B♭ – F – C (vi–IV–I–V): the same four chords as I–V–vi–IV, started on the minor chord for a darker feel.
Keys that mix with F major
F major is 7B on the Camelot wheel. For a clean blend, go to a key next to it:
| Camelot | Key | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| 6B | B♭ major | One step round the wheel: shares six of its seven notes |
| 8B | C major | One step the other way: also shares six of seven notes |
| 7A | D minor | The relative minor: exactly the same notes |
How the wheel works is in the Camelot wheel explained, and how to use it in a set is in harmonic mixing for DJs.
Relative and parallel keys
The relative minor, D minor, uses exactly the same notes with a different home chord. The parallel minor, F minor, keeps F as home but changes three notes. More on the difference in relative major and minor keys.
Questions people ask
What chords are in F major?
F (I), Gm (ii), Am (iii), B♭ (IV), C (V), Dm (vi) and E° (vii°).
What is the relative minor of F major?
D minor. It uses the same 7 notes, F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, but centres on D instead of F.
What is the Camelot code for F major?
7B. In Open Key notation it is 12d.
What keys mix well with F major?
B♭ major (6B), C major (8B) and D minor (7A). They sit next to 7B on the Camelot wheel.
How many sharps or flats does F major have?
1 flat (B♭).