Julie Swihart

Major Key Chords

Let’s find all the chords belonging to the key of F major. You can use these chords to create chord progressions and play creatively in the key of F.

How to Find Chords for F Major

Before we can find the chords, we’ll need to build an F major scale. We can build a major scale using a pattern of whole and half-steps (learn how to build a major scale here).

The notes for an F major scale are:

F – G – A – B♭ – C – D – E – F

To find chords for the key of F, we’ll need to build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chord.

We’ll start on F and count “1 – 3 – 5” to build our first chord, using only the notes of the F major scale. When we do, we get: F – A – C

To find our next chord, we’ll start on G and build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord, using only the notes of the scale. When we do, we get: G – B♭ – D

Then we’ll start on A, and using only the notes of the scale to build the chord, we’ll build another “1 – 3 – 5” chord: A – C – E

We can continue following this pattern to build a chord off each note of the scale, using only the notes of the scale to build the chords.

Chords for Major Keys Printable

This 20-page PDF will help you learn the chords for every major key! Use these chords to build chord progressions and play creatively.

Get the Printable

Chords for the Key of F Major

Here are the chords for the key of F major:

F – A – C = F major chord

G – B♭ – D = G minor chord

A – C – E = A minor chord

B♭ – D – F = B♭ major chord

C – E – G = C major chord

D – F – A = D minor chord

E – G – B♭ = E diminished chord

Other Major Key Chords

You can find chords for the other major keys below:

C Major Chords
G Major Chords
D Major Chords
A Major Chords
E Major Chords
B Major Chords
F Sharp Major Chords
C Sharp Major Chords
B Flat Major Chords
E Flat Major Chords
A Flat Major Chords
D Flat Major Chords
G Flat Major Chords
C Flat Major Chords

How to Label the Chords

The chords we just built were either major, minor or diminished chords, and you may be wondering how we know the difference between these types. It all depends on the intervals used to build the chords (learn about intervals here).

But to summarize, there are actually three types of “1 – 3 – 5” chords, or “triads”:
Major
Minor
Augmented
Diminished

Major chords are built with the first, third and fifth notes of the matching major scale.

Minor chords are major chords with the middle note lowered 1/2 step.

Augmented chords are major chords with the upper-note raised 1/2 step.

Diminished chords are minor chords with the upper-note lowered 1/2 step.

When we build a “1 – 3 – 5” chord off each note of a major scale, using only the notes of the scale, we will always get these chord types in this order:

Major
Minor
Minor
Major
Major
Minor
Diminished

Now you can use this pattern to find the chords for any major key on the piano!

Primary Chords for the Key of F Major

Each major key has three “primary” chords used frequently in that key. Primary chords are built off the first, fourth and fifth notes of the scale.

For the key of F major, the primary chords are:

F major
B♭ major
C major

Conclusion

Now you know how to find chords for the key of F major on the piano, and you can use that pattern to find the chords for any major key.

Using chords to build chord progressions and play creatively at the piano is a wonderful way to enjoy the piano!