Major (Ionian) · F · Piano
The F Major scale is F G A B♭ C D E — formula 1 2 3 4 5 6 7, step pattern W–W–H–W–W–W–H. Use it over Fmaj7: it is the scale for the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I. Below, every note is marked on the two-octave keyboard; press play to hear it on a synthesized piano while each note lights up, or tap any key to sound that note.
Visualizer
Piano
Guitar · standard tuning
Tap any note on the diagram to hear it. Play loops the scale up and down one octave in eighth notes (switch Loop off for a single pass). “Show” switches or combines the fretboard and keyboard; “Sound” picks the instrument you hear. Audio is synthesized in the browser.
Reference
| Degree | Note | Interval from F | Step to next |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | F | unison (0 semitones) | W |
| 2 | G | major 2nd (2 semitones) | W |
| 3 | A | major 3rd (4 semitones) | H |
| 4 | B♭ | perfect 4th (5 semitones) | W |
| 5 | C | perfect 5th (7 semitones) | W |
| 6 | D | major 6th (9 semitones) | W |
| 7 | E | major 7th (11 semitones) | H |
Chord it implies: Fmaj7 (F – A – C – E). Use it for: the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
Common questions
F G A B♭ C D E. As scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. It has 7 notes.
F Major fits Fmaj7 and, more generally, the I chord (maj7) and any major-key tonic; the default over Imaj7 in a ii–V–I.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 — the step pattern from the root is W W H W W W H (W = whole step, H = half step).
Play F G A B♭ C D E F ascending from the root, then descend. The keyboard above shows every root in gold, chord tones outlined in amber and the remaining scale tones in teal; use the Play button to hear the fingering tempo.
Keep going
Same scale on guitar · all Major pages: Major (Ionian) hub · practise it in context: ii–V–I trainer · theory: chord-scale theory.
Other scales from F