F chord (F major) on bass
F (F major) has three notes: F, A and C. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. In major keys, F is the I chord in F major, the IV in C major and the V in Bb major.
How to play F on bass
Low notes close together sound muddy, so bass players spread a chord out and leave notes out. Forms with a 3rd or 7th sound clear from about the E string's 8th fret up, so they start there; root and 5th stays low. These forms put the root on the E string; the same shapes work from the A string.
Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 2 on G.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A.
Fingers: 1 on E, 3 on A, 3 on D.
Hear it and see every shape in ScaleSpace →
| Symbol | F |
|---|---|
| Also written | Fmaj, FM |
| Notes | F A C |
| Formula | 1 3 5 |
| Intervals | root, major third, perfect fifth |
| Type | Major chord |
F across the neck
Bass · 4-string, tuned low to high: E, A, D, G. 24 frets.
- E string: fret 1 F (1), fret 5 A (3), fret 8 C (5), fret 13 F (1), fret 17 A (3), fret 20 C (5).
- A string: fret 0 A (3), fret 3 C (5), fret 8 F (1), fret 12 A (3), fret 15 C (5), fret 20 F (1), fret 24 A (3).
- D string: fret 3 F (1), fret 7 A (3), fret 10 C (5), fret 15 F (1), fret 19 A (3), fret 22 C (5).
- G string: fret 2 A (3), fret 5 C (5), fret 10 F (1), fret 14 A (3), fret 17 C (5), fret 22 F (1).
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Questions
What notes are in the F chord?
F (F major) has three notes: F, A and C. Its formula is 1, 3, 5. F is the root, A is the major third and C is the perfect fifth.
How do you play F on bass?
Bass players spread it out rather than strum it. The simplest form is the root and 10th: 1 10, root on the E string, fret 13. Fingers: 1 on E, 2 on G.
What key is F in?
In major keys, F is the I chord in F major, the IV in C major and the V in Bb major. It is diatonic to those keys, so it fits songs in any of them.
What is the difference between F and Fm?
F has a major 3rd, A. Fm lowers it a half step to Ab, which is what makes it sound minor. The root and 5th stay the same.