F major

F major

Relative key	D minor
Parallel key	F minor
Component pitches
F, G, A, B♭, C, D, E, F
Qualities

The F major scale (or the key of F) consists of the pitches F, G, A, B♭, C, D, and E. Its key signature has one flat (see below: Scales and keys).

Its relative minor is D minor and its parallel minor is F minor.

F major key is the home key of the English horn, the basset horn, the horn in F, the trumpet in F and the bass Wagner tuba. Thus, music in F major for these instruments is written in C major key. Most of these sound a perfect fifth lower than written, with the exception of the trumpet in F which sounds a fourth higher. (The basset horn also often sounds an octave and a fifth lower.)

Ascending and descending F-major scale on the treble clef. ( Play in just intonation )

Of the six Overtures Francesco Maria Veracini wrote for Prince Friedrich Augustus in Dresden, most are in either F major or B-flat major because of the limitations of the winds in the Prince's orchestra.

Notable compositions in F Major

Classical

• Concerto No. 3 in F major, Op. 8, RV 293, "L'autunno" – Antonio Vivaldi
• Brandenburg Concertos Nos 1 & 2 – Johann Sebastian Bach
• Piano Concerto No. 19 – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
• Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68, "Pastoral" – Ludwig van Beethoven
• Symphony No. 8 in F Major, Op. 93 - Ludwig van Beethoven
• Symphony No. 3 in F Major, Op. 90 – Johannes Brahms
• Piano Concerto No. 2 (Shostakovich) – Dimitri Shostakovich