F Major Scale on Piano
Notes, Fingering & How To Play It
The F major scale on piano is one of the first ones people learn that has a special or unique fingering. It's not a difficult scale in terms of the key signature but it does throw a bit of a curve ball with it's B flat.
Here you'll learn:
- how to play the scale
- the notes of the F major scale
- fingering for the right hand (on piano)
- fingering for the left hand
- the key signature of F major
- a bit about the F major chord
- what to practice!
The F Major Scale - Video Tutorial
Notes of F Major Scale
The F major scale is the first in line in terms of keys with flats in them. It's the scale with one flat. It starts and ends on F and all the notes in between are white notes except for Bb.
The key of F has Bb (B flat).
The notes of the F major scale are: F G A Bb C D E F
F Major Scale on Piano - NotesPiano Fingering for F Major Scale
If you look at the picture above of the F major scale, you'll see the Bb lands on the spot where we usually cross our thumb under when using the standard scale fingering. Trying to do that with a flat there just won't work or feel comfortable. So this scale will be different in terms of fingering - but only for the right hand.
Right Hand Fingering for F Major Scale on Piano:
With the B flat in the key signature, the fingering is going to be different for the right hand. We will be going up to 4, then crossing our thumb under and also finish the scale on finger 4.
Right hand fingering: 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
Right hand fingering for F Major Scale on pianoFinger Numbers
The finger numbers for pianoLeft hand isn't as complicated as the right hand. The flat doesn't change anything for this hand so it can still use the basic scale fingering.
Left hand fingering for F major scale on piano:
Left hand: 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1
Putting the F Scale Hands Together
When putting this F major scale hands together, it'll feel a bit awkward at first due to the difference in the fingering.
Here are some tips for playing F major scale hands together:
- really get your right hand fingering down before putting hands together
- start very slow, going up only
- keep playing it VERY slow
- once you've got going up handled, go back down ... very slowly
- be patient with yourself!
This scale can frustrate some since one hand is "normal" and the other is not. So if you feel that way, remember to give yourself a bit of leeway (lots of people struggle here) and go very very slow to begin with.
Resource for Piano Scales:
Fingering for all scales - especially more unique ones like F major, can be found in the Complete Book of Scales, Chords and Arpeggios here on Amazon (this is an affiliate link that will earn a tiny commission).
This is a handy resource when learning scales (and also arpeggios).
F Major Scale Fingering - Up and Down
If you're playing this scale going up and back down, use the following fingering to help you.
Here are pictures / diagrams of the F major scale on piano going both up and back down for the treble clef and right hand and the bass clef and left hand.
Treble clef fingering for F major scale on piano
Bass Clef Fingering for F scale on piano going up and downThe Key Signature of F Major
As you may have gathered by now, the key signature of F major is one flat - B flat (Bb).
When you play a song in the key of F, you always need to play a B flat instead of a B (unless instructed otherwise).
The key of F has one flat: Bb.
Understand the F Chord From F Scale
Now that you know the F scale, you can also know and understand the F chord - this is the F major chord.
This chord is written as just a F and major chords are built off of the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes of the major scale.
If you look at the picture of the scale, you can see the 1st, 3rd and 5th notes are F A C. Those three notes make the F chord and you can play that now as well.
Fsus / F4 / Fsus4
Let's also learn the formula for a suspended chord here.
A suspended chord has the chord formula of 1 4 5 - the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of a major scale.
Remember the Bb? It's on the 4th note of the scale. So that would be why this chord has a flat there.
The 1st note of the scale is F, the 4th is Bb and the 5th is C. So the F major chord is F Bb C.
Free Download:
Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet
Subscribe below and get free access to the (printable) Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet.
What To Practice?
This week, practice the F major scale in any of the following ways (depending on your level):
- 1 octave, hands separately
- 2 octaves, hands separately
- 1 octave, hands together, only after the right hand is doing great
Also try playing the F chord when you get to the end of your scale.
Further Resources:
For more major scales, visit the major scales page.
Complete Book of Scales, Chords and Arpeggios here on Amazon (this is an affiliate link).
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Free Download:
Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet
Subscribe below and get free access to the (printable) Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet.