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Chords in the Key of F

Pianote  /  Chords  /  UPDATED Mar 9, 2023

Click on the chord symbol for a diagram and explanation of each chord type:

F | Fm | Fsus2 | Fsus4 | Fmaj7 | Fm7 | F7 | Fdim7 | Fm7♭5


F MAJOR TRIAD

Chord Symbol: F or Fmaj

The F major triad consists of a root (F), third (A), and fifth (C). The distance between the root and the third is a major third interval (or four half-steps), and the distance between the third and fifth is a minor third interval (or three half-steps). Major triads have a “happy” sound.

Root Position

Diagram of F major triad in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Diagram of F major triad in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Diagram of F major triad in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F MINOR TRIAD

Chord Symbol: Fm

The F minor triad consists of a root (F), third (A♭), and fifth (C). The distance between the root and the third is a minor third interval (or three half-steps), and the distance between the third and the fifth is a major third interval (or four half-steps). Minor triads have a “sad” sound.

Root Position

Diagram of F minor triad in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Diagram of F minor triad in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Diagram of F minor triad in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F SUSPENDED 2

Chord Symbol: Fsus2

In the Fsus2 chord, the third of the F major or minor chord (A or A♭) is replaced (“suspended”) with the second note (G) of the F major scale.

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F sus 2 triad in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F SUSPENDED 4

Chord Symbol: Fsus4

In the Fsus4 chord, the third of the F major or minor chord (A or A♭) is replaced (“suspended”) with the fourth note (B♭) of the F major scale.

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F sus 4 triad in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F MAJOR 7

Chord Symbol: Fmaj7 or FΔ7

A major 7 chord is a major triad with an added seventh. The distance between the root and the seventh is a major 7th interval.

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F major 7 in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F major 7 in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F major 7 chord in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

3rd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F major 7 in 3rd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F MINOR 7

Chord Symbol: Fm7

A minor 7 chord is a minor triad with an added seventh. The distance between the root and the seventh is a minor 7th interval.

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 chord in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

3rd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 in 3rd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F DOMINANT 7TH

Chord Symbol: F7

A dominant 7th chord is a major triad with an added seventh, where the distance between the root and the seventh is a minor 7th interval.

You can also think of dominant 7th chords as being built on the fifth note of a major scale and following that scale’s key signature. For example, F7 is built on F, the fifth note of B-flat major, and follows B-flat major’s key signature (B♭, E♭).

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F dominant 7th chord in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F dominant 7th chord in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F dominant 7th chord in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

3rd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F dominant 7th chord in 3rd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

F DIMINISHED 7TH

Chord Symbol: Fdim7

A diminished 7th chord is a four-note-chord where each note is a minor third apart. You can think of diminished 7th chords as a “stack of minor thirds.”

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F diminished 7th chord in root position with keys highlighted in red and labelled.

1st Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F diminished 7th chord in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labelled.

2nd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F diminished 7th chord in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labelled.

3rd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F diminished 7th chord in 3rd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labelled.

F HALF-DIMINISHED 7TH

Chord Symbol: Fm75

The half-diminished chord is also called the “minor seven flat five” chord. It is a minor 7th chord where the fifth is lowered by a half-step.

Root Position

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 flat 5 chord in root position with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

1st Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 flat 5 chord in 1st inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

2nd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 flat 5 chord in 2nd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

3rd Inversion

Keyboard diagram of an F minor 7 flat 5 chord in 3rd inversion with keys highlighted in red and labeled.

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