F major
 | |
| Relative key | D minor |
|---|---|
| Parallel key | F minor |
| Component pitches | |
| F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E | |
- Also see: F minor, or F-sharp minor.
F major (or the key of F) is a musical major scale based on F, consisting of the pitches F, G, A, B-flat, C, D, E, and F. 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.
Of the six Overtures Francesco Maria Veracini wrote for the Prince of Dresden, most are in either F major or B flat major because of the limitations of the winds in the Prince's orchestra.
Well known classical music in this key
- Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana - Pietro Mascagni
- Piano Concerto No. 5, the "Egyptian" - Camille Saint-Saëns
- Symphony No. 6, the "Pastoral" - Ludwig van Beethoven
- Symphony No. 8 - Ludwig van Beethoven
- Symphony No. 3 - Johannes Brahms
- Ein deutsches Requiem - Johannes Brahms
Well-known contemporary music in this key
Scales and keys
