Chords in the key of F major
The key of F major has seven diatonic chords: F, GmGmGmGm, Am, Bb, C, DmDmDmDm and E°. As sevenths: Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7, Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7, Am7Am7Am7Am7, Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7, C7C7C7C7, Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7 and Em7b5. They come from the F major scale, F, G, A, Bb, C, D and E, one on each note.
The table shows each chord in two versions: the triad (the three-note chord) and the seventh chord (the same chord with a fourth note, the seventh, that enriches it).
Notes: F – G – A – Bb – C – D – E| Degree | Triad | Seventh | Function |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | FFFF | Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7Fmaj7 | tonic |
| ii | GmGmGmGm | Gm7Gm7Gm7Gm7 | subdominant |
| iii | AmAmAmAm | Am7Am7Am7Am7 | tonic |
| IV | BbBbBbBb | Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7Bbmaj7 | subdominant |
| V | CCCC | C7C7C7C7 | dominant |
| vi | DmDmDmDm | Dm7Dm7Dm7Dm7 | tonic |
| vii° | E° | Em7b5 | dominant |
The roman numerals mark the chord's position in the scale: I is the first degree, V the fifth. Uppercase = major chord; lowercase = minor; ° = diminished.
Tonic chords stabilize and rest; subdominant chords prepare motion; dominant chords build the tension that asks for resolution.