Also written F, Fmaj or FM
F major is built from F, A, and C. The open shape uses two fingers on adjacent strings, which is easy for beginners to manage.
The same three notes, with a different one in the bass.
F major uses the 1, 3, 5 formula from the F major scale. The major third between F and A gives it a bright, clear quality. Lower that third to A♭ and you get F minor.
F major is the tonic in F major, as in F–B♭–C, the I–IV–V–I progression. It also appears in B♭ major and C major keys. Use it for bright pop and folk strumming.
The open shape has C in the bass, making it a second inversion. The 3rd fret voicing puts F in the bass for a more grounded root position.
F major is played in open position as 2 0 1 0: middle finger on the G string at fret 2 and index finger on the E string at fret 1. The C and A strings ring open.
Tip — The middle finger on the G string must avoid touching the open C string beside it.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (3) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 1 (A) | open | — | A (3) |
F major is played at the 3rd fret as 5 5 5 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 5, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, pinky finger on the E string at fret 5 and index finger on the A string at fret 3.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 5 | 2 | C (5) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 4 | A (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 1 | C (5) |
F major is played at the 2nd fret as 2 5 5 3: index finger on the G string at fret 2, ring finger on the C string at fret 5, pinky finger on the E string at fret 5 and middle finger on the A string at fret 3.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 1 | A (3) |
| 3 (C) | 5 | 3 | F (1) |
| 2 (E) | 5 | 4 | A (3) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 2 | C (5) |
F major is played at the 8th fret as 10 9 8 8: barre your index finger across fret 8, ring finger on the G string at fret 10 and middle finger on the C string at fret 9.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 10 | 3 | F (1) |
| 3 (C) | 9 | 2 | A (3) |
| 2 (E) | 8 | 1 (barre) | C (5) |
| 1 (A) | 8 | 1 (barre) | F (1) |
F major is played in open position as 2 0 1 3: middle finger on the G string at fret 2, index finger on the E string at fret 1 and ring finger on the A string at fret 3. The C string rings open.
| String | Fret | Finger | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 (G) | 2 | 2 | A (3) |
| 3 (C) | open | — | C (5) |
| 2 (E) | 1 | 1 | F (1) |
| 1 (A) | 3 | 3 | C (5) |
F major is written F, Fmaj, or FM.
F major has A, a major third above F. F minor lowers that to A♭, a minor third, which darkens the sound.
The lowest sounding note is the C string open, which is the fifth of the chord. That makes it a second inversion, not root position.