Explore chords · Bass
F chord on bass (F major)
Also called or written F, Fmaj, FM or F chord
F major contains the notes F, A, and C. This intermediate shape stretches the fretting hand across four frets, making clean note separation the main challenge.
How it is built
Formula 1, 3, 5
How do you play an F major chord on bass?
F major is played at the 1st fret as 1 3 3 2: index finger on the E string at fret 1, ring finger on the A string at fret 3, pinky finger on the D string at fret 3 and middle finger on the G string at fret 2.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 4 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (3) |
IntermediateThe stretch from the index finger on the 1st fret to the pinky on the 3rd fret requires wide finger independence.
13th fret
F major is played at the 13th fret as 13 15 15 14: index finger on the E string at fret 13, ring finger on the A string at fret 15, pinky finger on the D string at fret 15 and middle finger on the G string at fret 14.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 13 | 1 | F (1) |
| 3 (A) | 15 | 3 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 15 | 4 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 14 | 2 | A (3) |
F/A inversion
F major is played at the 3rd fret as 5 3 3 5: ring finger on the E string at fret 5, index finger on the A string at fret 3, middle finger on the D string at fret 3 and pinky finger on the G string at fret 5.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 5 | 3 | A (3) |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 2 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 5 | 4 | C (5) |
F/C inversion · fret 2
F major is played at the 2nd fret as × 3 3 2: middle finger on the A string at fret 3, ring finger on the D string at fret 3 and index finger on the G string at fret 2. The E string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | muted | — | — |
| 3 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (5) |
| 2 (D) | 3 | 3 | F (1) |
| 1 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (3) |
F/C inversion · fret 7
F major is played at the 7th fret as 8 8 7 ×: middle finger on the E string at fret 8, ring finger on the A string at fret 8 and index finger on the D string at fret 7. The G string stays muted.
Full note and interval breakdown
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (E) | 8 | 2 | C (5) |
| 3 (A) | 8 | 3 | F (1) |
| 2 (D) | 7 | 1 | A (3) |
| 1 (G) | muted | — | — |
Why it sounds like that
F major is built from the formula 1, 3, 5: root F, major third A, and perfect fifth C. The major third, four semitones above the root, gives the chord its bright, stable quality. Lower that third by one semitone to A♭ and you get F minor, the parallel minor with a darker sound.
What goes wrong with F major?
- Letting the ring finger flatten onto the 2nd string, causing a buzz.
- Not pressing the pinky firmly enough on the 2nd string, producing a muted note.
When to use it
F major appears as the I chord in the I–IV–V–I progression F–B♭–C–F in F major. It also works as the IV chord in C major and the V chord in B♭ major. Use F major for bright rock, country, and pop bass lines that need a strong root.
Changing to and from F major
- Sliding the shape up one fret to the 2nd fret gives F♯ major.
- Sliding the shape up two frets to the 3rd fret gives G major.
Which voicing to use
The 1st fret voicing puts the root F in the bass, giving a solid, grounded sound. For a lighter feel, use the F/A inversion, which places the third in the bass and adds forward motion. The F/C inversion with the fifth in the bass works well when you want a less assertive low end.
Other F chords
Common questions
How is F major written in chord charts?
F major is written as F, Fmaj, or FM. There is no enharmonic spelling for F major.
What is the difference between F major and F minor?
F major has a major third (A), while F minor has a minor third (A♭). This single note changes the chord from bright to dark. The fifth, C, is the same in both chords.
Can I play F major in a higher register?
Yes, the 13th fret voicing puts the root F on the 4th string and uses the same shape as the 1st fret but higher. This voicing sits well when the bass needs to cut through a dense mix.